A rivalry has now died!

[darell1976]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/249487/


One of the longest-standing college hockey rivalries in the country is about to go on a hiatus.

Next season, for the first time in 65 years, UND and Minnesota will not play against each other and no future matchups are currently scheduled after the teams meet this January.

The teams are about to move into separate conferences for the first time ever — UND to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and Minnesota to the Big Ten — and nonconference scheduling has hit a stalemate.


UND kept dates for 2013-14 and 2014-15 open in hopes that there would be no break in the rivalry, but there was no agreement. UND is now full for next season and has just one slot open in 2014-15. Hakstol will likely fill that soon.



Minnesota coach Don Lucia was unavailable for comment Thursday, but has said in the past that he may not want to play the rivalry every year.

“We will go back there as a nonconference team,” Lucia said at a media gathering in January. “We have a great rivalry. Sometimes, it gets a little over the top and I’m not sure that is healthy for anybody. So we will continue to play, but I doubt we will continue to play each and every year.”

He is saying since UND kicks our *** every year we choose not to play them as we need wins to up our RPI rating and reach the playoffs.

[CHIP72]

Even though I don't follow college hockey, the above story sucks. I always hate to see rivalries end. Teams like Minnesota and North Dakota should play each other in a high profile sport for both schools like hockey every year IMO and find ways to make it happen.

[darell1976]

Even though I don't follow college hockey, the above story sucks. I always hate to see rivalries end. Teams like Minnesota and North Dakota should play each other in a high profile sport for both schools like hockey every year IMO and find ways to make it happen.

It does suck. Both Minnesota and North Dakota started the WCHA back in 1951. They have so much history with each other. Then the money hungry Big Ten Conference has to come in and snatch up their teams for big bucks, killing rivalries, and shutting down the CCHA. The BTHC (Big Ten Hockey Conference) has only 6 teams so if you play each team 4 times (2 at each venue) thats 20 games so you need to fill roughly 16-17 games or 8-9 OOC teams. Its too bad UND couldn't have been 1 of Minnesota's OOC teams.

[frozennorth]

what a surprise, another rival doesn't want to play us anymore. I'm glad being stubborn, boneheaded, confrontational assholes has worked out so well, yet again.

[darell1976]

what a surprise, another rival doesn't want to play us anymore. I'm glad being stubborn, boneheaded, confrontational assholes has worked out so well, yet again.

I love how you say us when you are no fan of UND athletics, plus your comment makes no sense. Its not UND's fault in this as Minnesota decided to leave the WCHA.

[Laker]

Growing up I was a big Minnesota Gopher fan. The older I get the more and more I get disgusted with that institution. Their arrogance and stupidity is much bigger than their ability to win. I'm glad that I can spend my time and money watching MN State. This shouldn't he happening. But they will also pull this on the other Minnesota schools.

Where is Holy Cross when you need them?

[Unbison]

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/249487/








He is saying since UND kicks our *** every year we choose not to play them as we need wins to up our RPI rating and reach the playoffs.
i believe what he said was we are not playing a classless institution annually....... punching in the hand shake line after the game is over is just that!

[WataugaDave]

Of COURSE the rivalry gets over the top. The more over the top, the better the rivalry. Just look at what Michigan and Ohio State do to each other every year. It's also freaking hockey, if you don't want rowdy fans I suggest coaching golf.

[darell1976]

i believe what he said was we are not playing a classless institution annually....... punching in the hand shake line after the game is over is just that!

UND had the cops brought out on the ice in 1982 against Wiconsin in a brawl and they fight constantly but guess what they are still going to play each other because its a rival game.

[Thundar]

What's hockey??

[darell1976]

What's hockey??

It's that sport where some Bison fans cheer for UND.

[WataugaDave]

What's hockey??

A sport that the Appalachian administration refuses to support by allowing them to use the Holmes Convocation Center. Yes, it's only a club sport, but club teams have access to other on-campus venues, including Kidd Brewer Stadium. They claim the reason is cost, but they use university money to drive to CHARLOTTE to play and practice, it would pay for itself in fuel savings. Plus, it makes perfect sense to have hockey on campus considering what winters are like here.

[Unbison]

UND had the cops brought out on the ice in 1982 against Wiconsin in a brawl and they fight constantly but guess what they are still going to play each other because its a rival game.
further proof of your class!

[darell1976]

further proof of your class!

This is proof:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G-FTg419NM

[darell1976]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQaZ3RTCAO8&feature=related

Here is a classic UND-Minnesota fight.

[BisonFan02]

What's hockey??

Vers da puck? :D

[Hammerhead]

Is there a reason why the Gophers aren't playing North Dakota now that the "hostile" mascot has been retired?

No hockey vs. Minny and no football vs. NDSU. Who are your rivals up there now? Wisconsin and Montana???

[darell1976]

Is there a reason why the Gophers aren't playing North Dakota now that the "hostile" mascot has been retired?

No hockey vs. Minny and no football vs. NDSU. Who are your rivals up there now? Wisconsin and Montana???

Maybe the reason is why Minnesota doesn't want to play NDSU...they are tired of losing. xlolx But seriously I have not a clue why they don't want to keep playing UND. Their new conference is small (5 conference opponents) so there will be a lot of non-conference games to be scheduled so maybe they want to schedule lower quality teams to get the wins.

[Laker]

Maybe the reason is why Minnesota doesn't want to play NDSU...they are tired of losing. xlolx But seriously I have not a clue why they don't want to keep playing UND. Their new conference is small (5 conference opponents) so there will be a lot of non-conference games to be scheduled so maybe they want to schedule lower quality teams to get the wins.

The Goofers are doing the same thing to the other MN schools. Oh, they will pick out one or two a year, probably only play them at Mariucci, handing out favors to Pavlovian dogs wanting a payday. That is why most of the time my favorite team is MSU followed by whoever is playing the Goofers.

[darell1976]

The Goofers are doing the same thing to the other MN schools. Oh, they will pick out one or two a year, probably only play them at Mariucci, handing out favors to Pavlovian dogs wanting a payday. That is why most of the time my favorite team is MSU followed by whoever is playing the Goofers.

UND fans think that Minny will only play UND in Minneapolis, hate to tell the Goofs but a lot of teams would love to check out the "Palace on the Prairie".

[Laker]

UND fans think that Minny will only play UND in Minneapolis, hate to tell the Goofs but a lot of teams would love to check out the "Palace on the Prairie".

The Ralph is a much better arena. If MN doesn't come to the Forks it is because of the fear of a loss. You can't tell me that it isn't financially successful for them to play there.

[darell1976]

The Ralph is a much better arena. If MN doesn't come to the Forks it is because of the fear of a loss. You can't tell me that it isn't financially successful for them to play there.

The REA is always sold out and the media hype is huge for the UND-UM rivalry. But if this is what the Goofs want then we will just have to eliminate the in the playoffs like we have 3 times in the last 10 years.

[Laker]

The REA is always sold out and the media hype is huge for the UND-UM rivalry. But if this is what the Goofs want then we will just have to eliminate the in the playoffs like we have 3 times in the last 10 years.

I was hoping that they would play Holy Cross again up there..........:)

[344Johnson]

UND fans think that Minny will only play UND in Minneapolis, hate to tell the Goofs but a lot of teams would love to check out the "Palace on the Prairie".

Doesn't mean Minnesota needs to. Very nice venue though no doubt. Obviously a much bigger blow to UND fans than Gopher fans so it seems.

[darell1976]

Doesn't mean Minnesota needs to. Very nice venue though no doubt. Obviously a much bigger blow to UND fans than Gopher fans so it seems.

It is to a point. UND can sellout a Michigan Tech game but I don't think Minny can say the same thing. With the new conferences next season it will be interesting to compare attendance.

[darell1976]

Its back!!!!!

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/274808/


One of the great college hockey rivalries won’t be dormant for long.
North Dakota and Minnesota have verbally agreed to renew the rivalry series in 2016-17, a source confirmed to the Herald.
Contracts are in the process of being drawn up. When they are completed and signed, an announcement is expected.
The agreement is for the teams to play a pair of two-game series. The first one, in 2016-17, will be played in Minneapolis. The following year, the teams will play in Grand Forks.
Those matchups will end a three-year stretch without a regular-season series between the longtime rivals who played every year from 1948 to 2013.


One of the hurdles was UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname. Minnesota said it could not schedule UND because of a school policy against playing teams with Native American nicknames. That hurdle has been removed.
The last meeting between the teams was a 4-4 tie on January 19 in Mariucci Arena. Their last meeting in Grand Forks came in January 2012.
UND now has lined up nonconference series against three Big Ten programs. It has a four-year agreement with the University of Wisconsin starting in 2014-15 and a two-year agreement with Michigan State.
This season, UND’s nonconference games are against Vermont, Boston University, St. Lawrence, Northern Michigan and Bemidji State.


But yet UND found no problem scheduling Wisconsin who has the same NA nickname policy as Minnesota. Gophers were just chicken ****.

[darell1976]

Can't escape us Gophers!!

[Laker]

Can't escape us Gophers!!

Do the Bison fans cheer for the Goofers tonight, or just hope that both lose???

[darell1976]

Do the Bison fans cheer for the Goofers tonight, or just hope that both lose???

I read on Bisonville it's almost 99-1 for Minnesota. However there are Bison fans who love UND hockey (since NDSU has no hockey).

[bkrownd]

...just another bitter howling wind from the northwest... xblehx


Was there a trophy with this rivalry? There's always gotta be a trophy...

[darell1976]

...just another bitter howling wind from the northwest... xblehx


Was there a trophy with this rivalry? There's always gotta be a trophy...

There has never been a trophy for the rivalry.

[Laker]

There has never been a trophy for the rivalry.

The trophy is usually just watching the game. These two should be playing each other every year in the regular season.

[darell1976]

The trophy is usually just watching the game. These two should be playing each other every year in the regular season.

Despite Lucci's comments on why it should stop, not every game is a total bloodbath where everyone is fighting like thugs. Almost every game has fighting and it's just an excuse not to play a top team during the regular season, well Luccia that backfired. Not many people were talking about the BC-Union game compared to the UND-Minny game when the 4 teams got into the finals. All they talked about was the rivalry and ESPN had it wrong it wasn't the Big10 that ended the rivalry it was Lucci as UND left 2 spots open one for Wisconsin and one for Minny, Wisconsin will play UND next season while the Gophers aren't until the 2016-17 season. How can Wisconsin have room for UND but not Minny?

[Laker]

Despite Lucci's comments on why it should stop, not every game is a total bloodbath where everyone is fighting like thugs. How can Wisconsin have room for UND but not Minny?

I thought that it was an unbelievably clean game. I blame Pride on Ice for the schedule. Could you imagine an outdoor game at the Bank? The place would be full.

[darell1976]

I thought that it was an unbelievably clean game. I blame Pride on Ice for the schedule. Could you imagine an outdoor game at the Bank? The place would be full.

Twins president (and former UND alum) Dave St. Peter would like to see a UND-Minnesota game at Target Field. That would be great. UND has had 1 outdoor game in recent times, last year at Omaha.

[Laker]

Target Field.

Well, that would be more of a "neutral" site! :D

[dewey]

Do the Bison fans cheer for the Goofers tonight, or just hope that both lose???

As a Bison fan I was cheering for Minnesota and I always cheer for Minnesota except when they play NDSU.

Dewey

[bkrownd]

Twins president (and former UND alum) Dave St. Peter would like to see a UND-Minnesota game at Target Field. That would be great. UND has had 1 outdoor game in recent times, last year at Omaha.

Unless they're prepared to pay the U good money, the only outdoor site is going to be TCF Bank.