Michigan Hockey’s Rivalry with Minnesota

The Michigan-Minnesota rivalry is one of the fiercest and most well-known in college hockey These two teams have met each other many times in the NCAA tournament with Michigan coming out on top most of the time.

Introduction

The Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are two of the most successful college hockey programs in history. They have combined for 27 NCAA Championships and 61 conference championships The two schools have been playing each other since 1930 and the rivalry is still going strong today. The games are always hotly contested and the fans are some of the most passionate in all of college hockey

The rivalry really took off in the 1950s when both schools were members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). The WCHA was one of the best conferences in college hockey at the time and every game between Michigan and Minnesota was highly competitive. The two teams met in the conference championship game five times in the 1950s with Michigan winning three of those matchups.

The rivalry continued to grow in popularity in the 1960s as both teams continued to be among the top teams in college hockey In 1969, Michigan and Minnesota met in what is considered one of the greatest college hockey games ever played. The game went to overtime tied at 2-2 and it wasn’t until the third overtime that Michigan finally scored to win 3-2. That game is still talked about today by fans of both teams.

The rivalry reached its peak in the 1980s when both teams were consistently ranked #1 in the nation. They met eight times during that decade, including four times in the NCAA Tournament with each team winning twice. Their most famous meeting came in 1981 when they met for the NCAA championship Michigan won that game 4-2 to claim their fourth national title.

Today, both teams are still competitive at a high level and continue to play each other every season. The games are always electric and fans from both sides can’t wait for them to start. It’s safe to say that this rivalry is alive and well and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

History

The rivalry between the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota began in 1932 when the two schools first met on the ice. Since then, the two teams have played each other over 200 times, making it one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in college hockey The rivalry really heated up in the 1960s when the two teams met in the NCAA Championship game four times in five years, with Michigan winning three of those meetings. The intensity has only increased since then, as the two teams have continued to be amongst the best in college hockey

Current Rivalry

The Michigan Wolverines and the Minnesota Golden Gophers have been rivals in college hockey since the early days of the sport. The two teams have played each other nearly 200 times, and the rivalry is currently one of the most intense in college hockey

The Wolverines and the Golden Gophers first squared off against each other in 1921, and they have been playing each other regularly ever since. The two teams have met in the NCAA tournament on 12 occasions, with Michigan holding a 7-5 lead in those matchups.

In recent years the rivalry has intensified even further. In 2010, the two teams met in the NCAA Championship game with Michigan coming out on top 3-2 in overtime. This was one of the most thrilling games in recent memory, and it only added to the intensity of the rivalry.

The Michigan-Minnesota rivalry is currently one of the most heated in all of college hockey The two teams are consistently ranked amongst the best in the country, and they always seem to be gunning for each other when they meet on the ice. If you’re a fan of college hockey this is one rivalry you don’t want to miss.

Reasons for the Rivalry

The Michigan–Minnesota rivalry is a college Ice Hockey rivalry between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers It is considered one of the most intense rivalries in college hockey Unlike many other college rivalries, it is not fueled by a long history or geographic proximity, but rather by the success of both programs and the frequency with which they have met in important games.

Both Michigan and Minnesota are founding members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), and have been conference rivals since the league’s inaugural season in 1951. They have played each other nearly 200 times, including 34 times in the NCAA tournament Michigan has won 34 NCAA championships, while Minnesota has won 25. In addition to their regular season meetings, the two teams have met 14 times in the NCAA tournament including five times in the Frozen Four (the Final Four of collegiate hockey). They met in consecutive Championship Games in 1979 and 1980, with Michigan winning both times.

While there are many reasons for the rivalry, one of the primary ones is that both programs are consistently among the best in College hockey As of 2018, Michigan has won more games than any other team in NCAA history, while Minnesota is second only to Boston College Both teams have alsowon more conference championships than any other team in their respective conferences (Michigan has won 16 conference championships, while Minnesota has won 19). In addition, both teams have won multiple National Championships (Michigan has won 9 national championships, while Minnesota has won 5).

Another reason for the rivalry is that both schools are located in states with a strong hockey tradition The state of Michigan is home to many successful professional and amateur Hockey teams including the Detroit Red Wings (one of the Original Six NHL teams) and the University of Michigan Wolverines (one of college hockey’s most successful programs). The state of Minnesota is also home to many successful professional and amateur hockey teams including the Minnesota Wild (an NHL Expansion team) and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (one of college hockey’s most successful programs). As a result, both states have a strong interest in College Hockey and a vested interest in seeing their respective schools succeed.

Finally, another reason for the rivalry is that both schools have a long history of success against each other. In addition to their regular season meetings, they have also met 14 times in the NCAA Tournament (including 5 times in the Frozen Four), with Michigan winning 9 times andMinnesota winning 5 times. This means that both schools have a lot at stake every time they play each other – which only adds to the intensity of this already fierce rivalry.

The Fans

When it comes to the fan-bases of the two teams, there is no doubt that Michigan holds the advantage. The Wolverines have had sell-out crowds at Yost Arena for 223 consecutive games, a streak that began in 2004. That’s over 11 years of commitment from the fans, many of whom travel far and wide to see their team play. The Minnesota Golden Gophers on the other hand, have only sold out 7 of their last 41 home games

The Coaches

It all started with the coaches. In the early days of College Hockey there were two dominant forces: Michigan and Minnesota. The two schools had different philosophies when it came to the game. Michigan believed in speed and finesse, while Minnesota favored a more physical style of play.

The rivalry between the two coaches, Vic Heyliger of Michigan and John Mariucci of Minnesota, was intense. They respected each other’s abilities, but they also had a healthy dislike for one another.

The rivalry between the two schools reached its peak in the late 1960s and early 1970s. That’s when the teams met in some of the most epic battles in college hockey history.

The Players

In the world of college hockey there are a few rivals that stand out above the rest. One of those is the long-standing rivalry between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers The two teams have been playing each other since 1902 and have developed a strong dislike for one another over the years.

One of the most well-known players in this rivalry is former Michigan captain and current NHL player Dylan Larkin. Larkin grew up in Michigan and was a diehard Michigan fan growing up. He dreamed of playing for the Wolverines one day and idolized players like Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, and Chris Chelios. When it came time to choose a college, there was no doubt in Larkin’s mind that he would be suiting up for Michigan.

Larkin had an immediate impact on the team and was a big part of their success during his time there. He played in three straight Frozen Fours and helped lead Michigan to a National Championship in 2018. He was named captain his junior year and led by example on and off the ice. Larkin is just one example of the type of player that has come through this great rivalry over the years.

The Stadiums

There are two iconic college hockey stadiums in the United States Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines and Mariucci Arena, home of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Both are renowned for their atmosphere and history.

Michigan Stadium, nicknamed “The Big House”, is the largest stadium in the world. It seats over 110,000 people and is the site of some of the most heated games in the rivalry. The arena itself is imposing, with towering walls and a vast interior. The fans are just as intimidating, creating a hostile environment for opposing teams.

Mariucci Arena is no slouch either, holding over 10,000 fans. It’s known for its raucous student section which stands for the entire game and chants loudly throughout. The arena is also unique in that it has a retractable glass roof, which is opened or closed depending on the weather.

The Records

In 137 games played between the two schools, Michigan leads the series 81-42-14. Minnesota’s largest margin of victory came in Feb. 1953, when they won 9-1. Michigan’s biggest win happened 67 years later in a 10-3 victory in Dec. 2019.

Conclusion

The Minnesota–Michigan hockey rivalry is a college Ice hockey rivalry between the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s programs. The two schools have met 252 times since 1904, making it the oldest and most-played rivalry in college hockey It is also one of the most storied rivalries in all of college athletics. With 52 NCAA Tournament appearances, 23 Frozen Four appearances, and 12 national championships between them, Michigan and Minnesota are two of the most successful programs in NCAA history.

The two schools first met on February 6, 1904, when Michigan traveled to Minneapolis to play Minnesota in a three-game series Michigan won the first game 3-2, but Minnesota bounced back to win the next two games by scores of 3-0 and 5-0. The two teams met again the following season, with Minnesota winning both games by identical 4-0 scores.

Despite their long history, the two teams have only played each other four times in the NCAA tournament The first meeting came in 1977, when Minnesota defeated Michigan 4-2 in the Midwest Regional semifinals en route to their fourth National Championship The two teams met again in 1979, with Michigan coming out on top 5-2 in the West Regional final. The most recent meeting came in the 2011 Frozen Four semifinals, whenMichigan won 5-2 en route to their ninth National Championship

The two teams will meet again during the 2019-20 season for a home-and-home series on December 27 & 28 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor and 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis respectively.