# Maine–New Hampshire men's ice hockey rivalry

The Maine–New Hampshire men's ice hockey rivalry, sometimes referred to as the Border War or Border Battle, is a men's ice hockey rivalry between the Maine Black Bears and New Hampshire Wildcats. The proximity of the two states, the success of the two programs, and their history in high-profile games have caused one of the most intense rivalries in American college hockey. College Hockey News has ranked it as the seventh-best Division I college hockey rivalry.

## History

The two teams first played in 1979. In the early 1990s, Maine dominated, winning 18 out of 19 games in one stretch. The rivalry came to a head in 1999. UNH and Maine played a two-game series to finish the regular season at the Whittemore Center. UNH had to win the series to clinch the top seed in the Hockey East playoffs and swept the two-game series. The two teams met again a month later in the 1999 national championship. Although Maine took an early lead in the game, UNH came from behind to force overtime. Maine then won in overtime. Afterwards the UNH fans rioted; overturning cars, performing basic vandalism on anything in sight, even launching an unmanned snowmobile engulfed in flames across the campus.
Since February 3rd, 2003 Maine leads the series at 23 wins and 20 losses. Three years after Maine's victory in the national title game UNH won its first Hockey East title with a victory over Maine. Maine gained revenge for this loss several weeks later, however, by defeating UNH in the 2002 Frozen Four. The series became very evenly matched for some time before UNH became more dominant in the late 2000s and won 6 games in a row over two seasons. In 2012 Maine and UNH played in a Winter Classic type game and Maine won 5–4 in overtime at Fenway Park, after giving up the first 2 goals. Maine's ice hockey program has been more successful overall than UNH, having won two national titles and five Hockey East titles while UNH has won two Hockey East titles and has not won a national championship.

## Traditions

One factor that contributes to the intensity of the rivalry is the similarity of the two states. Fans of each program often work together and frequent the same restaurants in places such as Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. Though the two schools are 165 miles (266 km) apart, many Maine fans from southern Maine live closer to UNH's campus in Durham, New Hampshire than to the University of Maine's campus in Orono, Maine, ensuring a high turnout of Maine fans when UNH hosts Maine. The two programs also recruit many of the same potential players from New England, though there are often very few New Hampshire natives on UNH's team and few Maine natives on Maine's team.
In 1999 UNH began asking their fans to dress in white each time Maine traveled to the Whittemore Center in what they dubbed "White out the Whit" nights. The student tickets for these games sell out faster than any others. Maine supporters often refer to UNH as the "University of No Hardware" due to their lack of championships. During one series in Maine, Maine fans pelted visiting UNH fans with snowballs. UNH fans often raise the issue of NCAA violations committed by Maine under Shawn Walsh. They have also brought newspapers to the games to read while Maine's starting lineup is being introduced. The two schools have announced plans to move two of their games each year to the last week of the regular season.
In addition to ice hockey, UNH and Maine are considered rivals in basketball and football as well.

## Game results

| Maine victories | New Hampshire victories |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | 15 December 1979 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–3 |
| 2 | 16 February 1980 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–5 |
| 3 | 27 December 1980 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 10–4 |
| 4 | 26 February 1981 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 5 | 2 December 1981 | Orono, ME | Maine | 7–5 |
| 6 | 27 February 1982 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 8–5 |
| 7 | 4 March 1982 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 8 | 30 December 1982 | Hanover, NH | New Hampshire | 8–5 |
| 9 | 18 January 1983 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–3 |
| 10 | 31 December 1983 | Hanover, NH | New Hampshire | 5–4 |
| 11 | 5 February 1984 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 12 | 7 February 1984 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–0 |
| 13 | 16 October 1984 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–2 |
| 14 | 2 February 1985 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 7–6 |
| 15 | 3 February 1985 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 7–3 |
| 16 | 14 November 1986 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–5 |
| 17 | 15 November 1986 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–2 |
| 18 | 27 January 1987 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–2 |
| 19 | 28 January 1987 | Orono, ME | Maine | 10–1 |
| 20 | 29 January 1988 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 21 | 31 January 1988 | Orono, ME | Maine | 9–2 |
| 22 | 26 February 1988 | Durham, ME | Maine | 6–2 |
| 23 | 1 November 1988 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–2 |
| 24 | 3 February 1989 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–3 |
| 25 | 4 February 1989 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–4 |
| 26 | 9 February 1990 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 27 | 10 February 1990 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–3 |
| 28 | 16 February 1990 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–2 |
| 29 | 11 December 1990 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–0 |
| 30 | 18 January 1991 | Durham, NH | Maine | 8–4 |
| 31 | 23 February 1991 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–2 |
| 32 | 6 December 1991 | Orono, ME | Maine | 9–0 |
| 33 | 7 December 1991 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–2 |
| 34 | 22 February 1992 | Durham, NH | Tie | 4–4 |
| 35 | 14 March 1992 | Boston, MA | Maine | 4–1 |
| 36 | 11 December 1992 | Portland, ME | Maine | 4–3 |
| 37 | 29 January 1993 | Durham, NH | Maine | 5–2 |
| 38 | 30 January 1993 | Durham, NH | Maine | 8–3 |
| 39 | 6 March 1993 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 40 | 10 December 1993 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 7–3 |
| 41 | 4 February 1994 | Orono, ME | Tie | 1–1 |
| 42 | 5 February 1994 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 1–0 |
| 43 | 4 March 1994 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 3–1 |
| 44 | 4 November 1994 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–3 |
| 45 | 5 November 1994 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–1 |
| 46 | 2 March 1995 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 3–2 |
| 47 | 3 March 1995 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–3 |
| 48 | 3 November 1995 | Orono, ME | Tie | 4–4 |
| 49 | 4 November 1995 | Orono, ME | Tie | 3–3 |
| 50 | 24 November 1995 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–3 |
| 51 | 11 February 1996 | Durham, NH | Maine | 6–5 |
| 52 | 7 March 1996 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 53 | 8 March 1996 | Orono, ME | Maine | 8–4 |
| 54 | 15 November 1996 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–3 |
| 55 | 16 November 1996 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–5 |
| 56 | 30 November 1996 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 7–2 |
| 57 | 18 February 1997 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–1 |
| 58 | 29 November 1997 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 7–0 |
| 59 | 16 January 1998 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 2–1 |
| 60 | 17 January 1998 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 5–0 |
| 61 | 1 February 1998 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–1 |
| 62 | 13 March 1998 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–2 |
| 63 | 14 March 1998 | Durham, NH | Maine | 5–3 |
| 64 | 27 November 1998 | Lowell, MA | Maine | 4–3 |
| 65 | 7 February 1999 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–3 |
| 66 | 5 March 1999 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–1 |
| 67 | 6 March 1999 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–1 |
| 68 | 3 April 1999 | Anaheim, CA | Maine | 3–2 |
| 69 | 7 January 2000 | Orono, ME | Maine | 9–4 |
| 70 | 8 January 2000 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 5–4 |
| 71 | 6 February 2000 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 1–0 |
| 72 | 5 January 2001 | Durham, NH | Tie | 0–0 |
| 73 | 6 January 2001 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–1 |
| 74 | 4 February 2001 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–2 |
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 75 | 1 December 2001 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–1 |
| 76 | 1 February 2002 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–3 |
| 77 | 2 February 2002 | Orono, ME | Tie | 2–2 |
| 78 | 16 March 2002 | Boston, MA | New Hampshire | 3–1 |
| 79 | 4 April 2002 | St Paul, MN | Maine | 7–2 |
| 80 | 22 November 2002 | Orono, ME | Maine | 2–1 |
| 81 | 1 February 2003 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–2 |
| 82 | 2 February 2003 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–2 |
| 83 | 8 November 2003 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–3 |
| 84 | 30 January 2004 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–4 |
| 85 | 31 January 2004 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–0 |
| 86 | 7 November 2004 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–0 |
| 87 | 4 February 2005 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–1 |
| 88 | 5 February 2005 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 2–1 |
| 89 | 12 November 2005 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–2 |
| 90 | 3 February 2006 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–1 |
| 91 | 4 February 2006 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 7–4 |
| 92 | 12 November 2006 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 8–2 |
| 93 | 2 February 2007 | Manchester, NH | Maine | 4–2 |
| 94 | 3 February 2007 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 2–1 |
| 95 | 16 December 2007 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 2–0 |
| 96 | 8 February 2008 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 3–2 |
| 97 | 9 February 2008 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 4–1 |
| 98 | 4 January 2009 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 5–4 |
| 99 | 6 February 2009 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 4–1 |
| 100 | 7 February 2009 | Durham, NH | Maine | 1–0 |
| 101 | 24 December 2009 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 102 | 5 February 2010 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–2 |
| 103 | 6 February 2010 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–3 |
| 104 | 12 December 2010 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 4–3 |
| 105 | 4 February 2011 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–3 |
| 106 | 5 February 2011 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–4 |
| 107 | 5 November 2011 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 3–2 |
| 108 | 7 January 2012 | Boston, MA | Maine | 5–4 |
| 109 | 3 March 2012 | Orono, ME | Maine | 1–0 |
| 110 | 4 November 2012 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 4–0 |
| 111 | 8 March 2013 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–3 |
| 112 | 9 March 2013 | Durham, NH | Tie | 4–4 |
| 113 | 24 January 2014 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 3–2 |
| 114 | 25 January 2014 | Orono, ME | Maine | 4–2 |
| 115 | 12 December 2014 | Manchester, NH | Maine | 5–2 |
| 116 | 13 December 2014 | Portland, ME | New Hampshire | 7–4 |
| 117 | 23 January 2015 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–4 |
| 118 | 24 January 2015 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–0 |
| 119 | 4 December 2015 | Orono, ME | Tie | 3–3 |
| 120 | 5 December 2015 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 121 | 29 December 2015 | Portland, ME | New Hampshire | 5–4 |
| 122 | 30 December 2015 | Manchester, NH | New Hampshire | 7–0 |
| 123 | 2 December 2016 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–1 |
| 124 | 3 December 2016 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 4–3 |
| 125 | 30 December 2016 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–4 |
| 126 | 19 January 2018 | Orono, ME | Tie | 2–2 |
| 127 | 20 January 2018 | Orono, ME | Tie | 3–3 |
| 128 | 14 February 2018 | Durham, NH | Maine | 4–3 |
| 129 | 2 March 2018 | Orono, ME† | Maine | 4–1 |
| 130 | 3 March 2018 | Orono, ME† | Maine | 3–2 |
| 131 | 21 January 2019 | Orono, ME | Tie | 4–4 |
| 132 | 1 February 2019 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 3–2$^{OT}$ |
| 133 | 2 February 2019 | Durham, NH | Maine | 5–3 |
| 134 | 15 November 2019 | Orono, ME | Maine | 3–1 |
| 135 | 16 November 2019 | Orono, ME | Maine | 2–1 $^{OT}$ |
| 136 | 11 December 2020 | Durham, NH | Tie | 1–1 |
| 137 | 12 December 2020 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–2 |
| 138 | 10 March 2021 | Orono, ME† | New Hampshire | 7–2 |
| 139 | 18 February 2022 | Orono, ME | Maine | 6–3 |
| 140 | 19 February 2022 | Orono, ME | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 141 | 17 February 2023 | Durham, NH | Tie | 2–2 |
| 142 | 18 February 2023 | Durham, NH | Tie | 0–0 |
| 143 | 1 December 2023 | Orono, ME | Maine | 5–2 |
| 144 | 16 February 2024 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 6–2 |
| 145 | 17 February 2024 | Durham, NH | New Hampshire | 5–2 |
| 146 | 16 March 2024 | Orono, ME† | Maine | 5–0 |
| 147 | 22 November 2024 | Durham, NH | Maine | 3–1 |
| Series: Maine leads 74–59–14 |||||
† Hockey East Tournament

### Results by decade

| Decade | Series |
| 1970s | Maine, 1–0–0 |
| 1980s | Maine, 14–10–0 |
| 1990s | Maine, 27–12–4 |
| 2000s | New Hampshire, 18–13–2 |
| 2010s | Maine, 15–14–5 |
| 2020s | New Hampshire, 5–4–3 |