UND and DU Set to Faceoff

Over the years, the University of North Dakota has had some great battles with Denver University. UND hockey fans look forward to the yearly series against the Pioneers.

In the past, I have referred to the UND vs. DU series as college hockey’s version of the Hatfields and McCoys, due to the intensity of the rivalry.

I know it sounds like a cliché, but every game between UND and DU has been a battle. Every series ends up being World War III. Both teams usually rack up the penalty minutes when they play each other.

Stephane Pattyn, (Eric Classen, UND Athletics)

The players on the ice don’t like each other very much, but there’s a respect between the two programs. It’s kind of a love-hate relationship.

If you go to YouTube.com, you will find hundreds of videos of UND and DU getting into scrums and line brawls after the whistle. In college hockey, fighting is severely penalized and not allowed. That being said, there have been a few fights between the two teams over the years.

Gwozdecky is gone, rivalry is not

While you’re checking out some of those YouTube videos, you’ll probably find a video of head coach George Gwozdecky walking across the ice after getting kicked out of a game.

While coach Gwozdecky is no longer at Denver, he wasn’t re-signed after the 2012-13 season. The rivalry hasn’t cooled off in his absence.

If you look over the record books, you will see that there’s a lot of history between the two teams. In their last 15 games against the Pioneers, UND has a 9-5-1 record. Four of those games have been in the playoffs. UND won all four games.

Historically, the games have been entertaining and full of drama. The players from both teams love playing in the series. It’s one of those series that the UND players look forward to playing in.

“I think it’s such a great rivalry between two programs,” sophomore defenseman Troy Stecher said. “It’s an up paced game. Their D-Core is pretty offensive. We like to think that our D-Core can jump up in the play as well. I think it’s going to be a weekend of chances going back and forth.”

“It’s a tradition I think or a history thing,” senior caption Steph Pattyn said. “It’s definitely a rivalry. Something that has always been. A lot of it has to do with the history of the two programs. Denver is a good program. The coaches definitely instill in us to go hard this weekend.”

True to form, head coach Dave Hakstol downplayed the significance of the rivalry.

“For me it’s like any other series,” Hakstol said. “Let’s talk about the Nebraska-Omaha series. You can go through any series. To me, it’s no different. They’re an opponent, there’re points on the line. They’re coming into our building. Is there a rivalry there? Absolutely! Let’s get at it. Let’s go play. What is it? It’s something different to everybody else.”

Zac Larraza [photo: University of Denver Athletics]

Pioneers ready for their series with UND

Denver’s second-year head coach Jim Montgomery weighed in on the series.

“North Dakota is obviously a high-quality opponent and we know the atmosphere there will be hostile,” Denver’s second-year bench boss says. “That being said, our veteran-laden team has proven time and time again this season that pressure is something we can handle with tremendous aplomb and I’m confident in our ability to focus on the job at hand and do what we need to do in order to be successful. I’m looking forward to a very competitive series with UND this weekend.” (Denver Pioneers)

“This is a big weekend for our team. We’re ready for battle.” –@JLaLeggia21 to @9NEWSSports‘ @AaronMatas re: #DUvsUND pic.twitter.com/TFvhcFD3em

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) February 12, 2015

The Denver players are ready for the series as well. Here’s what senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia had to say about the upcoming series.