This weekend, the University of North Dakota Travels to Minneapolis to play the University of Minnesota Gophers. Nodak fans probably have this game circled on their calendars and will show up in big numbers.
For those keeping track at home, Minnesota leads 146–138–16 in 300 total meetings. However, there is some good news: North Dakota has won eight of the last 12 meetings. Everyone will predict a split, because that’s how many of these series shake out. The game will be on October 22-23, 2026; apparently, Big Ten Football takes precedence over Big Ten Hockey. The good news: the series will go yearly through the 2033-34 season, but will take a one-year hiatus during the 2029-30 season.
The coaching staff also favors the series.
Personally, I have many great memories of this series, but my all-time favorite game between North Dakota and Minnesota is the "Time Out Game." UND trailed 3-0 before head coach Dave Hakstol called a timeout and rallied the troops. Following the timeout, UND scored six unanswered goals to win the game and the Final Five 6-3. One of the current coaches played in the timeout game.
“Minnesota and what they’ve done over the years, head coach Dane Jackson said. My most memorable moments have been playing against these guys. We’re excited to go down there and just get into the battle.”
Personally, I have many great memories of this series, but my all-time favorite game between North Dakota and Minnesota is the "Time Out Game." UND trailed 3-0 before head coach Dave Hakstol called a timeout and rallied the troops. Following the timeout, UND scored six unanswered goals to win the game and the Final Five 6-3. One of the current coaches played in the timeout game.
“That's probably the most memorable game for me,” Assistant coach Dillon Simpson said. “I know we were on the ropes, trying to find a way, couldn’t find our game, and Hak takes that timeout and rallies the troops. From there, once we scored that first goal, there was a lot of belief and confidence from the group. From there, it felt natural. We just kept rolling and kept the momentum for the rest
of the game.”
Coach Simpson’s career ended in Philly when the Gophers scored with 0.06 seconds left.
"It feels like Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals every time you play the Gophers," Simpson said.
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Then there was that beautiful overtime goal by Evan Trupp to win game one of the series in Marruci Arena on February 1, 2008. Trupp’s game-winning overtime goal secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Golden Gophers. (Link to video)
The following night, on February 2, 2008, the 1-1 overtime tie ended in a line brawl. (Link to video)
March 15, 2010: The message: keep your head up. Former UND forward Matt Frattin delivers a monster hit on Gopher d-man Kevin Wehrs. Frattin was assessed a five-minute major. UND play-by-play guy Tim Hennesey would later name that corner Wehrs Corner. (Link to the video) Frattin was suspended for the Thursday Play-in game of the Final Five for running over Wehrs.
Who could forget Robbie Bina scoring a goal on Jeff Frazee from 180 feet out? You almost had to feel some empathy for Frazee.
Finally, who can forget the game with a brawl in the handshake line? (Link to video)
This rivalry really does feel like Game 7 every time, as Simpson said — 300 meetings, Minnesota leading 146-138-16, and UND winning 8 of the last 12 is a beautifully balanced history. The 0.06-second Frozen Four goal, Trupp's overtime winner at Mariucci, and Bina scoring from 180 feet are exactly the moments that make this series special. It's great news that it will run yearly through 2033-34, and I enjoy following these college hockey stories alongside the pro game over at OnHockey.
ReplyDeleteSimpson's Game 7 comparison feels spot-on after reading about the 0.06-second Frozen Four winner and Trupp's overtime goal at Mariucci — those are the moments that make 300 meetings feel alive, not just a stat line. I also liked that the series is set to run yearly through 2033-34 despite the 2031-32 break, because rivalries like this need regular chapters. Between college games, I still keep up with the pro side too, often through NHL Streams when I want to catch a game.
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