ECH Opinion: “Hate Week”
By alex berger - October 17, 2025Tonight, the best rivalry in college hockey will add another chapter to its storied history. I understand that might upset some fans around the country, particularly those in Boston (BC vs. BU), Colorado (CC vs. Denver), and Michigan (UM vs. MSU). The one thing all of those other great rivalries have in common? They are always compared to Minnesota vs. North Dakota.
This weekend will mark the 299th and 300th meeting between the Golden Gophers and Fighting Hawks, with Minnesota currently holding a 145-137-16 advantage. The once-bitter WCHA rivals have continued the rivalry into a changing landscape of college hockey over the last decade, and although the teams might not have much hatred for each other like the “good old days,” the fans have certainly carried on that tradition.
As a North Dakota fan, I can’t help but get caught up in the fun of hate week. I was born and raised a Fighting Sioux/Hawks fan, and there is still nothing like when these two teams face each other on the ice. I can vividly remember my first UND-UMN game in person, when Kevin Wehrs was crushed by Brad Malone in the far corner of Ralph Engelstad Arena. Although NoDak lost that game in overtime, I was instantly hooked.
Like most fans, I love to voice my opinion on why and how this rivalry should be played every year. This series marks the start of a four-year stretch where they will faceoff against each other, with home series alternating between the two schools until the 2028-’29 season. Luckily, Everything College Hockey gives me a platform to do that, thanks in part to my decision to introduce myself to them at a fan event ahead of a North Dakota/Minnesota game. This opinion is my attempt to help extend that agreement indefinitely, and to figure out why this rivalry matters so much to these two fanbases.
Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald - Sarah Kolberg
Behind Enemy Lines
Like many split households in the midwest, I have a strange relationship with this rivalry. In the fall of 2019 I moved into Pioneer Hall at the University of Minnesota after nearly 18 years of living in Grand Forks. Suddenly I was behind enemy lines, having to explain to my new friends why I was watching the Fighting Hawks in my dorm room instead of joining the Gophers’ student section on a Friday or Saturday night.
There were a few tough seasons during my time at Minnesota, especially in 2021-’22 and 2022-’23 when the Gophers made back-to-back Frozen Fours and North Dakota didn’t win a single tournament game. There were still some highlights, however, including a 5-4 overtime win at Mariucci my senior year of college. Just one night after getting popcorn poured on my head by Goldy Gopher (true story) I was celebrating a Mark Senden goal surrounded by hundreds of students who were shooting daggers my way. But after hours of chirping back-and-forth with Minnesota fans, the trash talk and that season’s “hate week" were suddenly over.
Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald - Eric Hylden
Mutual Respect
That series opened my eyes to something that I don’t think a lot of long-time fans would willingly admit to the other side, the fact that both of these programs have just as much respect for each other as they do hate for each other.
North Dakota has more national championships (8 to 5), but Minnesota has more NCAA tournament (42-35) and Frozen Four appearances (23-22). The Gophers have more Hobey Baker Award winners (4-2), but the Fighting Hawks have more All-Americans (82-69). NoDak has more conference regular season titles (21-20), while UMN has more postseason titles (16-12).
As you can tell, fans go back-and-forth choosing the stats they say makes their team look better than the other. That’s true for the games played too. Minnesota has arguably the two most iconic moments in the history of the rivalry: Neal Broten’s diving goal to win the 1979 NCAA championship game and Justin Holl’s goal with 0.6 seconds remaining to get a 2-1 win in the Frozen Four. North Dakota also has a Frozen Four win in this rivalry, beating Minnesota 4-2 in 2005, but each team would eventually lose in the national championship game in both seasons.
Hate and respect do not have to be mutually exclusive, but they both elevate this rivalry to something bigger than what’s played on the ice. That’s why I feel the term “hate week” might be a little harsh to describe this rivalry. Fans of both teams might hate what the other side represents, but they don’t hate each other. Without the other side there would be no rivalry.
Photo credit: Gopher Athletics
Keeping the Rivalry Alive
Weeks like this should serve as a reminder to both athletic departments to make this matchup an annual tradition. Even though the two teams are now in different conferences, the passion from both fanbases is as strong as ever.
This year is the start of a four-year stretch where these two teams will face off, but I argue that should be extended indefinitely. It would make sense from a travel standpoint (the teams are just 300 miles from each other) and from a competitive standpoint. Both the Fighting Hawks and Gophers have the talent to win 20+ games this year and will be vying for tournament positioning in March. No matter what happens this weekend, these games will be critical in raising both of their NCAA Percentage Indexes (NPI). Even if one team is swept, the boost that will come from this series will be greater than a sweep over a “bad” team this season.
Scheduling looks different every season, but it would be fun to get a game back at Grand Casino Arena (formerly Xcel Energy Center). Although the energy will never match the days of the WCHA Final Five, it would be a great way to get these teams in front of 15,000+ fans again. I believe there is also demand for another “destination game” between the two schools, as Gopher fans were basically shut out of the last game at Orleans Arena in Nevada. That game could be back in Las Vegas, or somewhere like Chicago or an outdoor game at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald - John Stennes
Sharing the Tradition
I can remember the exact moment of Holl’s goal, just like I can remember exactly where I was for UND’s 3-1 win in Las Vegas in 2018, or their 9-3 blowout over the Gophers on Thanksgiving night in 2019. Like my family shared with me, those will be the stories I will pass down to my son (who’s just starting to understand what hockey is).
That’s what makes this rivalry so special. Every fan is going to have their favorite stories, and I’m sure they will be told at some point this weekend. Meanwhile, many more memories are set to be made at the Ralph tonight and tomorrow. Whether it’s a road trip from the Twin Cities or a North Dakota student’s first time in the student section, this rivalry gives every fan an excuse to go all out. Being able to pass down memories like those are what makes college hockey so great. At the end of the day, the games on the ice are just as fun as the time spent with your people before, during, and after the games.
Photo Credit: Russell Hons
This Weekend
There will be 25 NHL Draft picks on the ice in Grand Forks tonight (and UND defenseman Keaton Verhoeff will likely be a top-five pick in next year’s draft). Only 11 players on both rosters have experienced this rivalry before, but they will get a quick introduction in front of a sold-out crowd at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Minnesota is younger, faster, and a little more talented offensively, but has a much more inexperienced defensive corps compared to North Dakota. Neither team has swept the other since 2019, and although the Fighting Hawks are playing at home, I do expect that streak to continue this weekend. Whichever team loses on Friday night should press hard early on Saturday.