Nonconference Schedule Now and in Future under new leadership

[nascar99]

9 hours ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

The Michigan thing goes back to UND and DU having "25 year old Canadians" and Red refused to play them. To this day Michigan would play either team in their rink but won't do a return series. Screw 'em.

Weren't those Michigan teams full of 21 and 22 year old Canadians? Red is Canadian, he should FOH with that soft stuff.

[Shawn-O]

A hockey football triple header out east would be amazing. Maine, Nee Hampshire, any Ivy, etc 

[Tignutts]

think the last time Michigan played in Grand Forks for a series was 90/91 i think

[MGsioux]

4 hours ago, gfhockey said:

Maybe und princess could blog about it? She has inside info

I am starting to think gfhockey and und princess are the same person

[SIOUXFAN97]

3 minutes ago, MGsioux said:

I am starting to think gfhockey and und princess are the same person

i think gfhockey and ira might be the same person?

[burd]

gfhockey yesterday and gfhockey the day before are not even the same person.    Thankfully, for who would want more of any one version of himself?  😁
 

gfhockey:  he doesn’t always drink, but when he does he drinks anything he can get his hands on.  

[farce poobah]

4 hours ago, Tignutts said:

think the last time Michigan played in Grand Forks for a series was 90/91 i think

The last games in GF were Feb 22/23, 1980.

Memorable because the win Friday clinched the WCHA title. Along with the "Miracle on Ice" (which we watched on CBC in the dorm before going to the Sioux game), led the GF Herald to headline Saturday's paper "Hockey Heaven".  

And on Saturday, we got Kermit the Frog mascot back from Michigan.

The last regular season games at Yost were next season 80-81.

 

Why hasn't Michigan been back?  First, they left the WCHA to play in the CCHA cupcake league (aka bus league) after the 80-81 season, which led to nasty, unpleasant splits out West.  Then, a long stretch of years where there were very few nonconference games (28 conference in a 34 game season), left small to no chance until the NCHC formed. (Switching to 24 game conference season was a big reason for the collapse of the WCHA.) 

The last reason they haven't been back, I think, is money (haven't seen that mentioned).  They want ⅔ of nonconference games to be at home, we do too. 

[Blackheart]

2 hours ago, farce poobah said:

The last games in GF were Feb 22/23, 1980.

Memorable because the win Friday clinched the WCHA title. Along with the "Miracle on Ice" (which we watched on CBC in the dorm before going to the Sioux game), led the GF Herald to headline Saturday's paper "Hockey Heaven".  

And on Saturday, we got Kermit the Frog mascot back from Michigan.

The last regular season games at Yost were next season 80-81.

 

Why hasn't Michigan been back?  First, they left the WCHA to play in the CCHA cupcake league (aka bus league) after the 80-81 season, which led to nasty, unpleasant splits out West.  Then, a long stretch of years where there were very few nonconference games (28 conference in a 34 game season), left small to no chance until the NCHC formed. (Switching to 24 game conference season was a big reason for the collapse of the WCHA.) 

The last reason they haven't been back, I think, is money (haven't seen that mentioned).  They want ⅔ of nonconference games to be at home, we do too. 

The Sioux went to Yost for NCAA regional in 1998 and as legend has it, they had to dress in a tent out in the parking lot.?.?  Not sure why Sioux didn't get a locker room; is this really true?  Anyway, UND goes up 2-0 and then goes on a 5 minute power play but does not score.  Michigan comes back to win the game 4-3 and goes on to win the NCAA title.  

 

[cberkas]

3 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

The Sioux went to Yost for NCAA regional in 1998 and as legend has it, they had to dress in a tent out in the parking lot.?.?  Not sure why Sioux didn't get a locker room; is this really true?  Anyway, UND goes up 2-0 and then goes on a 5 minute power play but does not score.  Michigan comes back to win the game 4-3 and goes on to win the NCAA title.  

 

Yost only has two locker rooms, thats why if Michigan, does what Denise Illitch wants, adds women’s hockey they would have to build a new arena. 

[farce poobah]

50 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

The Sioux went to Yost for NCAA regional in 1998 and as legend has it, they had to dress in a tent out in the parking lot.?.?  Not sure why Sioux didn't get a locker room; is this really true?  Anyway, UND goes up 2-0 and then goes on a 5 minute power play but does not score.  Michigan comes back to win the game 4-3 and goes on to win the NCAA title.  

 

That 97-98 team is top candidate for Best UND Team Not to Win the NCAA.

i don’t recall the outdoor locker room part… wouldn’t put it past them since there were two Elite Eight games there that day.

[hawksfan12]

4 hours ago, farce poobah said:

The last games in GF were Feb 22/23, 1980.

Memorable because the win Friday clinched the WCHA title. Along with the "Miracle on Ice" (which we watched on CBC in the dorm before going to the Sioux game), led the GF Herald to headline Saturday's paper "Hockey Heaven".  

And on Saturday, we got Kermit the Frog mascot back from Michigan.

The last regular season games at Yost were next season 80-81.

 

Why hasn't Michigan been back?  First, they left the WCHA to play in the CCHA cupcake league (aka bus league) after the 80-81 season, which led to nasty, unpleasant splits out West.  Then, a long stretch of years where there were very few nonconference games (28 conference in a 34 game season), left small to no chance until the NCHC formed. (Switching to 24 game conference season was a big reason for the collapse of the WCHA.) 

The last reason they haven't been back, I think, is money (haven't seen that mentioned).  They want ⅔ of nonconference games to be at home, we do too. 

What a lame comment. You really think UMich is hurting for money? Their football program is prob a top 3-5 CFB team in revenue. Their athletic program is valued to be one of the top 2-3 programs in overall brand value/revenue. 

 

They have taken roadtrips to SCSU and UMD recently. 

[Tignutts]

they started switching up their nonconference schedule under the new coach Brandon Narauto, seems like he's more apt to playing opponents they haven't had on the schedule for a while. JMHO

[hawksfan12]

crazy idea but I think UND and Minnesota should do a home and home every year like we just did with UST (1 game at each arena). keeps momentum/energy for each fanbase in rivalry.

Do it the same weekend every year (like how Alabama Tennessee always play the same weekend in October ever year in football).

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

7 minutes ago, hawksfan12 said:

crazy idea but I think UND and Minnesota should do a home and home every year like we just did with UST (1 game at each arena). keeps momentum/energy for each fanbase in rivalry.

Do it the same weekend every year (like how Alabama Tennessee always play the same weekend in October ever year in football).

Not a fan of Friday-Sunday

[nodakgirl93]

17 minutes ago, hawksfan12 said:

crazy idea but I think UND and Minnesota should do a home and home every year like we just did with UST (1 game at each arena). keeps momentum/energy for each fanbase in rivalry.

Do it the same weekend every year (like how Alabama Tennessee always play the same weekend in October ever year in football).

No. The tommie series became a home and home only because next season they join the nchc. 

[Und Princess]

14 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

Not a fan of Friday-Sunday

I'm not fan of the Friday-Sunday either. It messed me up on Monday thinking it was Sunday. 

[SIOUXFAN97]

6 hours ago, hawksfan12 said:

crazy idea but I think UND and Minnesota should do a home and home every year like we just did with UST (1 game at each arena). keeps momentum/energy for each fanbase in rivalry.

Do it the same weekend every year (like how Alabama Tennessee always play the same weekend in October ever year in football).

love home and homes....one game in a weekend is better than not seeing em for weeks ......bemdiji, minny, duluth, and augie 

[nodakvindy]

On 10/11/2025 at 8:21 PM, hawksfan12 said:

What a lame comment. You really think UMich is hurting for money? Their football program is prob a top 3-5 CFB team in revenue. Their athletic program is valued to be one of the top 2-3 programs in overall brand value/revenue. 

 

They have taken roadtrips to SCSU and UMD recently. 

UMD was the icebreaker, St Cloud wasn't in the WCHA with them. They have not played UND,CC or Denver in a series in the past 30 years.  There is clearly bad blood. 

[nodakvindy]

On 10/15/2025 at 9:06 AM, hawksfan12 said:

crazy idea but I think UND and Minnesota should do a home and home every year like we just did with UST (1 game at each arena). keeps momentum/energy for each fanbase in rivalry.

Do it the same weekend every year (like how Alabama Tennessee always play the same weekend in October ever year in football).

I wouldn't mind if they tried to start a new tradition and put the series over Thanksgiving with Thursday night and Saturday night games home and home. Get a sponsor and call it the Scheels Red River Classic or something like that. 

[Godsmack]

CC, AF, and Denver do this thing where an eastern school comes out and they rotate who plays who Friday and Saturday night. This year, Bentley played at CC Friday and then at DU Saturday. DU played at AF Friday, and then CC played at AF Saturday. I prefer it when CC and AF only play one game against one another rather than a 2-game series. Not a ton to be gained and plus, I’d rather see that extra game against an opponent Tigers fans don’t normally get to see very often. (Plus, it makes more on the line for the local Pike’s Peak Trophy between CC and AF when it’s decided by just one game). 
 

I wonder if UND, Duluth, and Bemidji could make a similar arrangement with a central or eastern school? 

[Godsmack]

Listening to Cornell coach Mike Schafer at Sioux boosters several years ago (circa, 2011???) he made some rather pointed comments directed at programs he left nameless that always wanted his team to travel to their barn but wouldn’t return the favor. My immediate thought was that he was referring to programs like Michigan.

Conversely, Coach Schafer was very complimentary of programs like UND (and you can throw in virtually every other NCHC program in the mix too) that were and are always willing to reciprocate and travel. I respect CC and DU for the same reasons as UND-they’re willing to travel far distances to face anyone. 

[Big Green]

On 10/11/2025 at 4:48 PM, farce poobah said:

The last games in GF were Feb 22/23, 1980.

Memorable because the win Friday clinched the WCHA title. Along with the "Miracle on Ice" (which we watched on CBC in the dorm before going to the Sioux game), led the GF Herald to headline Saturday's paper "Hockey Heaven".  

And on Saturday, we got Kermit the Frog mascot back from Michigan.

The last regular season games at Yost were next season 80-81.

 

Why hasn't Michigan been back?  First, they left the WCHA to play in the CCHA cupcake league (aka bus league) after the 80-81 season, which led to nasty, unpleasant splits out West.  Then, a long stretch of years where there were very few nonconference games (28 conference in a 34 game season), left small to no chance until the NCHC formed. (Switching to 24 game conference season was a big reason for the collapse of the WCHA.) 

The last reason they haven't been back, I think, is money (haven't seen that mentioned).  They want ⅔ of nonconference games to be at home, we do too. 

What was the deal with this?  I was 5 at the time and I remember having a Kermit the Frog that I would sometimes bring to games.  Even have a picture in the Dakota Student holding Kermit.  Remember "Kermit's luck guides our puck"  and it would ride around on the Zamboni.  Was it stolen or rewarded to Series winner?

 

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

10 minutes ago, Big Green said:

What was the deal with this?  I was 5 at the time and I remember having a Kermit the Frog that I would sometimes bring to games.  Even have a picture in the Dakota Student holding Kermit.  Remember "Kermit's luck guides our puck"  and it would ride around on the Zamboni.  Was it stolen or rewarded to Series winner?

 

Never understood that reference either, so I'm also interested

[Blackheart]

10 minutes ago, Big Green said:

What was the deal with this?  I was 5 at the time and I remember having a Kermit the Frog that I would sometimes bring to games.  Even have a picture in the Dakota Student holding Kermit.  Remember "Kermit's luck guides our puck"  and it would ride around on the Zamboni.  Was it stolen or rewarded to Series winner?

 

Kermit was the unofficial mascot back then until Jim Henson sent a cease and desist letter.  I remember having a t-shirt that said “Kermit’s the Way to the NCAA’s”.  I’m guessing it’s connected to the Farce.

[atxsioux]

2 hours ago, Godsmack said:

Listening to Cornell coach Mike Schafer at Sioux boosters several years ago (circa, 2011???) he made some rather pointed comments directed at programs he left nameless that always wanted his team to travel to their barn but wouldn’t return the favor. My immediate thought was that he was referring to programs like Michigan.

Conversely, Coach Schafer was very complimentary of programs like UND (and you can throw in virtually every other NCHC program in the mix too) that were and are always willing to reciprocate and travel. I respect CC and DU for the same reasons as UND-they’re willing to travel far distances to face anyone. 

That would check out with Michigan. I'd like to almost throw BC in that group too. It has to be 20 years+ since they've come to Grand Forks? We visited them last during the "Fog" game in Boston. (I'm not counting the ice breaker in my view because they're coming more for the tournament since they got invited, not because they went out of their way to work out a scheduled visit with UND)