# Minnesota–St. Cloud State men's ice hockey rivalry

The Minnesota–St. Cloud State men's ice hockey rivalry is a college ice hockey rivalry between the Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey and St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey programs. The first meeting between the two occurred on 3 October 1987 but wasn't played annually until 1990.

## History

While Minnesota and St. Cloud State both fielded varsity ice hockey teams since at least the early 1930s, the two programs never faced one another for over 50 years. Despite their campuses being just 65 miles apart, Minnesota was competing with the top tier colleges while St. Cloud were matched with the smaller schools. In the mid-80s, the administration at St. Cloud State decided to raise the profile of their college and hired legendary Gopher coach, Herb Brooks to head the team in 1986. He led the Huskies to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance and, though he left for the NHL after the year, he set the program on the road to Division I play. The team was promoted to DI the following year and played their first game at that level against Minnesota. After a few years of playing as an independent, St. Cloud joined the WCHA in 1990 and the two programs became conference rivals.
The two played several times each season afterwards, with Minnesota carrying the balance of play for several years. Beginning in 1997, the two teams began facing one another with regularity in the conference playoffs. From '97 through '09, the Huskies and Gophers met nine times in the postseason. These frequent meeting had the effect of entrenching the rivalry between the two programs. After Minnesota and St. Cloud went their separate ways in 2013, the two were part of agreement to found the North Star College Cup, a Minnesota-based version of the Beanpot. The tournament didn't last long but both Minnesota and St. Cloud State continued their rivalry by scheduling one another in non-conference meeting more often than not.

## Game results

Full game results for the rivalry, with rankings beginning in the 1998–99 season.
| Minnesota victories | St. Cloud State victories | Tie games |
| No. | Date | Location | Winning team | Winning team | Losing team | Losing team | Notes |
| 1 | 3 October 1987 | Eveleth Hippodrome; Eveleth, MN | Minnesota | 6 | St. Cloud State | 0 | United States Hockey Hall of Fame game |
| 2 | 12 October 1990 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT); WCHA play begins |
| 3 | 13 October 1990 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 4 | 11 January 1991 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 7 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 5 | 12 January 1991 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 7 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 6 | 1 November 1991 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 7 | St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 7 | 2 November 1991 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 7 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 8 | 28 February 1992 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 2 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 9 | 29 February 1992 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 10 | 19 December 1992 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 11 | 20 December 1992 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 12 | 6 March 1993 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 1 | St. Cloud State | 0 | |
| 13 | 7 March 1993 | Target Center; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (OT) |
| 14 | 29 October 1993 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 3 | Minnesota | 2 | |
| 15 | 30 October 1993 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 4 | Tie | 4 | (OT) |
| 16 | 4 March 1994 | Williams Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 17 | 5 March 1994 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 8 | Minnesota | 4 | |
| 18 | 19 March 1994 | Bradley Center; Milwaukee, WI | Minnesota | 3 | St. Cloud State | 2 | (OT); WCHA Championship |
| 19 | 4 November 1994 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 20 | 5 November 1994 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 21 | 4 March 1995 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 3 | Minnesota | 0 | |
| 22 | 5 March 1995 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 23 | 4 November 1995 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 24 | 5 November 1995 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 25 | 16 February 1996 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 8 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 26 | 17 February 1996 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | (OT) |
| 27 | 14 December 1996 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 28 | 15 December 1996 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | (OT) |
| 29 | 17 January 1997 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 5 | Minnesota | 2 | |
| 30 | 18 January 1997 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 6 | St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 31 | 14 March 1997 | St. Paul Civic Center; Saint Paul, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 4 | (OT); WCHA Semifinal |
| 32 | 19 December 1997 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 3 | Minnesota | 1 | |
| 33 | 20 December 1997 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 1 | |
| 34 | 6 March 1998 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Minnesota | 6 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 35 | 7 March 1998 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 36 | 23 October 1998 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 3 | St. Cloud State | 0 | |
| 37 | 24 October 1998 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 6 | Minnesota | 5 | |
| 38 | 19 February 1999 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 4 | Tie | 4 | (OT) |
| 39 | 20 February 1999 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (OT) |
| 40 | 18 March 1999 | Target Center; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 3 | WCHA Quarterfinal |
| 41 | 10 December 1999 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | (OT) |
| 42 | 11 December 1999 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (OT) |
| 43 | 3 March 2000 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 5 | Minnesota | 0 | |
| 44 | 4 March 2000 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | |
| 45 | 18 March 2000 | Target Center; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | WCHA third-place game |
| 46 | 17 November 2000 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 3 Minnesota | 2 | No. 6 St. Cloud State | 0 | |
| 47 | 18 November 2000 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 3 Minnesota | 4 | No. 6 St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 48 | 2 March 2001 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 6 | No. 4 Minnesota | 1 | |
| 49 | 3 March 2001 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 5 | No. 4 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 50 | 18 March 2001 | Xcel Energy Center; Saint Paul, MN | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 3 | No. 3 Minnesota | 0 | WCHA Semifinal |
| 51 | 30 November 2001 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 3 | No. 1 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 52 | 1 December 2001 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 2 | Tie | 2 | (OT) |
| 53 | 1 March 2002 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 6 Minnesota | 5 | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 54 | 2 March 2002 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 6 Minnesota | 3 | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 55 | 15 March 2002 | Xcel Energy Center; Saint Paul, MN | No. 3 Minnesota | 4 | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 1 | WCHA Semifinal |
| 56 | 3 January 2003 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | No. 4 Minnesota | 3 | |
| 57 | 4 January 2003 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT) |
| 58 | 7 March 2003 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 6 Minnesota | 5 | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 3 | |
| 59 | 8 March 2003 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 1 | Tie | 1 | (OT) |
| 60 | 5 March 2004 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 10 Minnesota | 7 | No. 13 St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 61 | 6 March 2004 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 10 Minnesota | 4 | No. 13 St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 62 | 12 March 2004 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 8 Minnesota | 6 | No. 15 St. Cloud State | 1 | WCHA first round game 1 |
| 63 | 13 March 2004 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 8 Minnesota | 7 | No. 15 St. Cloud State | 3 | WCHA first round game 2 |
| 64 | 10 December 2004 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 2 | St. Cloud State | 1 | (OT) |
| 65 | 11 December 2004 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 66 | 25 February 2005 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 12 Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 4 | |
| 67 | 26 February 2005 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 12 Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 68 | 28 October 2005 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 3 | No. 7 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 69 | 29 October 2005 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 7 Minnesota | 3 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 70 | 17 March 2006 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 8 | No. 1 Minnesota | 7 | (OT); WCHA Semifinal |
| 71 | 10 November 2006 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | Tie | 5 | Tie | 5 | (OT) |
| 72 | 11 November 2006 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 3 | Tie | 3 | (OT) |
| 73 | 23 February 2007 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 5 | No. 2 Minnesota | 1 | |
| 74 | 24 February 2007 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 5 | No. 2 Minnesota | 3 | |
| 75 | 11 January 2008 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 15 St. Cloud State | 3 | No. 14 Minnesota | 1 | |
| 76 | 12 January 2008 | National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | Tie | 4 | Tie | 4 | (OT) |
| 77 | 20 March 2008 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | No. 12 Minnesota | 3 | No. 7 St. Cloud State | 2 | WCHA Quarterfinal |
| 78 | 17 October 2008 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 9 Minnesota | 3 | No. 10 St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 79 | 18 October 2008 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 9 Minnesota | 2 | No. 10 St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 80 | 16 January 2009 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 8 Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 81 | 17 January 2009 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 8 Minnesota | 8 | St. Cloud State | 6 | |
| 82 | 13 March 2009 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 2 | WCHA first round game 1 |
| 83 | 14 March 2009 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 3 | St. Cloud State | 0 | WCHA first round game 2 |
| 84 | 22 January 2010 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 3 | |
| 85 | 23 January 2010 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | Minnesota | 1 | |
| 86 | 22 October 2010 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 14 St. Cloud State | 5 | No. 20 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 87 | 24 October 2010 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 20 Minnesota | 2 | No. 14 St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 88 | 18 November 2011 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | St. Cloud State | 4 | No. 1 Minnesota | 3 | |
| 89 | 19 November 2011 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 5 | St. Cloud State | 0 | |
| 90 | 27 January 2012 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 3 Minnesota | 2 | St. Cloud State | 1 | |
| 91 | 28 January 2012 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 3 Minnesota | 3 | St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 92 | 8 February 2013 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 4 | No. 10 St. Cloud State | 2 | |
| 93 | 9 February 2013 | National Hockey and Event Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 10 St. Cloud State | 4 | No. 1 Minnesota | 3 | WCHA play ends |
| 94 | 24 January 2014 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 4 | No. 5 St. Cloud State | 1 | North Star College Cup semifinal |
| 95 | 30 March 2014 | Xcel Energy Center; Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 4 | No. 8 St. Cloud State | 0 | NCAA Regional Final |
| 96 | 31 October 2014 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 7 St. Cloud State | 4 | No. 1 Minnesota | 1 | |
| 97 | 1 November 2014 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 1 Minnesota | 4 | No. 7 St. Cloud State | 3 | (OT) |
| 98 | 27 November 2015 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 7 St. Cloud State | 3 | Minnesota | 2 | |
| 99 | 29 November 2015 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 7 St. Cloud State | 7 | Minnesota | 4 | |
| 100 | 21 October 2016 | Mariucci Arena; Minneapolis, MN | No. 14 St. Cloud State | 6 | No. 7 Minnesota | 5 | (OT) |
| 101 | 22 October 2016 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 14 St. Cloud State | 3 | No. 7 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 102 | 6 January 2018 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 1 St. Cloud State | 5 | No. 10 Minnesota | 2 | |
| 103 | 7 January 2018 | 3M Arena at Mariucci; Minneapolis, MN | No. 10 Minnesota | 2 | No. 1 St. Cloud State | 0 | |
| 104 | 29 December 2020 | 3M Arena at Mariucci; Minneapolis, MN | Minnesota | 4 | St. Cloud State | 1 | Mariucci Classic Championship |
| 105 | 15 October 2021 | 3M Arena at Mariucci; Minneapolis, MN | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 2 | No. 4 Minnesota | 1 | |
| 106 | 16 October 2021 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center; St. Cloud, MN | No. 4 Minnesota | 4 | No. 2 St. Cloud State | 3 | (OT) |
| Series: Minnesota leads 59–35–12 ||||||||

## Series facts

| Statistic | Minnesota | St. Cloud State |
| Games played | 106 | 106 |
| Wins | 59 | 35 |
| Home wins | 29 | 17 |
| Road wins | 20 | 15 |
| Neutral site wins | 10 | 3 |
| Goals scored | 376 | 306 |
| Most goals scored in a game by one team | 8 (16 February 1996, 17 January 2009) | 8 (5 March 1994, 17 March 2006) |
| Most goals in a game by both teams | 15 (17 March 2006 – St. Cloud State 8, Minnesota 7) | 15 (17 March 2006 – St. Cloud State 8, Minnesota 7) |
| Fewest goals in a game by both teams | 1 (6 March 1993) | 1 (6 March 1993) |
| Fewest goals scored in a game by one team in a win | 1 (6 March 1993) | 2 (15 October 2021) |
| Most goals scored in a game by one team in a loss | 7 (17 March 2006) | 6 (17 January 2009) |
| Largest margin of victory | 6 (3 October 1987, 11 January 1991) | 5 (3 March 2000, 2 March 2001) |
| Longest winning streak | 10 (13 October 1990 – 6 March 1993) | 5 (27 November 2015 – 6 January 2018) |
| Longest unbeaten streak | 13 (3 October 1987 – 7 March 1993) | 7 (17 March 2006 – 12 January 2008) |