"As far back as when I came here in 1959, it was always the top rivalry for the Minnesota Gophers," Nanne said. "I can't remember any time that series was played without a great deal of passion and a great deal of interest. It's been the prime rival for a long, long time. It's something I'm going to miss."
By the time John Mariucci took over as Gophers coach in 1952, the rivalry had blossomed.
"He loved it," Nanne said.
Mariucci's other favorite foe was Michigan State because Spartans coach Amo Bessone was a friend, but as far as team matchups, Nanne said, Mariucci looked to North Dakota.
"North Dakota was always the top rival," Nanne recalled. "In those days, Michigan and Michigan State were in our league, but North Dakota was our biggest rival."
I think you guys are comparing apples and oranges. If the discussion is the 70's, it's definitely Wisconsin. Mariucci's time was before that, and well before my time as well, so maybe it was UND if you go back to the 50's and even 60's. But if you're talking 70's, it was those stinkin' Badgers. And Tech was a distant 2nd, if only due to geography and their fans did not travel nearly as well as Wisconsin's.
I'd say Michigan was 50's and 60's, but that was before my time. In my lifetime, I don't remember UND rivalry really heating up until the 80's. And then it was UND and UW 1a and 1b. Starting in the 90's the UND rivalry really began to pull ahead of all others. Just my recollection.
I didn't start following college hockey until the early 2000s, and by that time (for me) it was UND 1, WI 1a. From my learnings, Tech was 70s, along with BU, hands down.
Yeah, lots of battles between those teams in the Tourney in the 70's. Especially Tech. Lots of big battles with Badgers too. What really put that rivalry over the top IMO was Herb Brooks and Bob Johnson and their complete disdain for each other.
Ahhh Badger Bob, yes. I still have a lot to learn, not too proud to admit it. I need to learn about the 80's, besides the obvious "highlights."
Lots of fun hockey in the 80's for sure. Though the loss to Harvard in the finals probably stings more than any other Gopher loss for me.
One of the *ahem* highlights. That game, and the Legg goal I know about, and have seen highlights from, but obviously will never know that pain.
One of the *ahem* highlights. That game, and the Legg goal I know about, and have seen highlights from, but obviously will never know that pain.
Should I be concerned that my 7 year old is practicing his version of the Legg goal on his mite team, even though he has never seen the highlight?
Should I be concerned that my 7 year old is practicing his version of the Legg goal on his mite team, even though he has never seen the highlight?
One of the *ahem* highlights. That game, and the Legg goal I know about, and have seen highlights from, but obviously will never know that pain.
I didn't get to watch last night's game but did see Holl scored. Could not be happier for a kid, he is quickly becoming one hell of a forward.
I made the comment a few days back that I thought over the long run, UND is hands down the biggest rival from a MN perspective.
What I mean to say is that if you look, on aggregate, at the rivalries in Gopher Hockey history UND has found itself on that list higher up and for longer than any other team.
My dad grew up in MPLS. When he was 13 his dad passed and his family moved to Grand Forks to be close to his grandparents. The stories he tells of going to games in the late-50's in Grand Forks are worthy of their own documentary.
Certainly other rivalries have cropped up and grown, but over the long haul it seems hard to argue the relationship that MN and UND have had.
For the record, I started watching Gopher hockey in the mid 80's, and I was young at the time. So my first hand experience is quite limited, admittedly.
The game where Aaron Broten put the puck through the net but the Refs never saw (but later patched a hole in the net between periods) was very tough to take as well. From my angle in the balcony, there was zero question if it was a goal.
The game where Aaron Broten put the puck through the net but the Refs never saw (but later patched a hole in the net between periods) was very tough to take as well. From my angle in the balcony, there was zero question if it was a goal.