Welcome back, ‘Gophs’
Packed sports weekend highlighted by long-awaited Top 10 match-up of college hockey’s biggest rivals
They’re back!
Insert your favorite pop-culture Gopher reference here. The classic movie Caddyshack is a good starting point.
This weekend, the Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey squad, touting a Top 10 national ranking, will make its first appearance inside the raucous confines of Ralph Engelstad Arena since 2012.
Standing room only sell-out crowds are expected both Friday and Saturday night when the Fighting Hawks (3-0-1), ranked No. 4 nationally, host the Gophers (2-2-0) at the Ralph. Tickets for the much-anticipated match have been selling several hundred dollars over face value.
The two teams have had a long-standing rivalry on the ice since they first played in 1948. They’ve faced off 286 times since then.
The rivalry was officially renewed after a several-year hiatus last November in Minneapolis, where UND and the Gophers skated to a 5-all tie in game 1 and the hometown team was able to take game 2.
UND Head Hockey Coach Brad Berry said he’s looking forward to seeing the Maroon and Gold back in Grand Forks, setting the stage for another tilt between two of college hockey’s longest-running, and at times, bitterest rivalries.
“Obviously our guys are excited, we (coaches) are excited and I believe our fans are excited as well with them coming back to the Ralph,” Berry said. “I know we had a great experience last year down there and the rivalry was renewed for the first time in a long time — it won’t be any different here.”
HOCKEY: WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN/TRACK
TV: Midco SN
UND Radio: 96.1 FM (Grand Forks)
Live Audio Stream: www.UNDSports.com and UND Sports Mobile
Live Stats: www.UNDSports.com
The UND-Gophers tilt isn’t the only game in town this weekend.
The big sports weekend actually tips off early at 7 p.m. tonight when the Fighting Hawks volleyball team (21-4 overall) takes on the Idaho State Bengals. That will be followed up by an 11 a.m. early-start game against the Weber State Wildcats on Saturday. Both games will be at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
VOLLEYBALL: WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN/TRACK
TV: Tonight against Idaho State on Midco SN
UND Radio: 96.1 FM (Grand Forks)
Live Audio Stream: www.UNDSports.com and UND Sports Mobile
Live Stats: www.UNDSports.com
Also Saturday, the Fighting Hawks football team comes back home to take on the Sacramento State Hornets for the annual “Green Out” game at 12:30 p.m., at the Alerus Center.
FOOTBALL: WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN/TRACK
TV: Midco SN
UND Radio: 96.1 FM (Grand Forks)
Live Video Stream: Pluto.TV (Ch. 240)
Live Audio Stream: www.UNDSports.com and UND Sports Mobile
Live Stats: www.UNDSports.com
