Denver–North Dakota men's ice hockey rivalry

The Denver–North Dakota men's ice hockey rivalry is a college ice hockey rivalry between the Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey and North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey programs. The first meeting between the two occurred on February 1, 1950. The two programs have met in the national championship game on four occasions with Denver holding 3–1 edge.
==History==
North Dakota founded their ice hockey team in the late 1920s. However, due to the Great depression, the program was shuttered for most of the 30s. The then-Fighting Sioux returned in full after World War II and were one of only a handful of teams west of the Appalachians. In 1949, Denver joined in with a team of their own and the two became founding members of the MCHL two years later. With the exception of 1959, the two have remained conference rivals since and are typically regarded as two of the top programs in college ice hockey. As of 2022, Denver is tied with Michigan for the most national championships (9) with North Dakota not far behind (8). Additionally, the two have met in the final game on four separate occasions (1958, 1963, 1968, 2005) which is also tied for the most common championship rematch in NCAA history.
==Game results==
Full game results for the rivalry, with rankings beginning in the 1998–99 season.
==Series facts==
Statistic 	Denver 	North Dakota
Games played 	214 	214
Wins 	132 	71
Home wins 	67 	44
Road wins 	52 	22
Neutral site wins 	13 	5
Goals scored 	910 	705
Most goals scored in a game by one team 	19 (26 February 1941) 	12 (6 February 1943, 10 January 1950)
Most goals in a game by both teams 	21 (26 February 1941 – Clarkson 19, St. Lawrence 2), (6 February 1943 – St. Lawrence 12, Clarkson 9)	21 (26 February 1941 – Clarkson 19, St. Lawrence 2), (6 February 1943 – St. Lawrence 12, Clarkson 9)
Fewest goals in a game by both teams 	1 (13 February 1926, 24 January 1998) 	1 (13 February 1926, 24 January 1998)
Fewest goals scored in a game by one team in a win	1 (1926, 1998) 	2 (1955, 1987, 2002, 2009, 2021)
Most goals scored in a game by one team in a loss 	9 (6 February 1943) 	6 (1969, 1981, 2001)
Largest margin of victory 	17 (15 February 1930, 26 February 1941) 	10 (5 March 1952)
Longest winning streak 	14 (23 January 1993 – 24 January 1998) 	8 (20 February 1952 – 2 March 1955)
Longest unbeaten streak 	14 (23 January 1993 – 24 January 1998) 	8 (20 February 1952 – 2 March 1955)
==References==
==External links==
*Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey
*North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey
Category:College ice hockey rivalries in the United States
Category:Denver Pioneers ice hockey
Category:North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey