TOP 10 COLLEGE HOCKEY RIVALRIES
Written by Alex BERGER, ARIANA OTTRANDO, DAIN SOLBERG - JANUARY 26th, 2024:Rivalry matchups have always been important to the culture of college hockey, and this weekend we will be spoiled with multiple. Highlighted by #1 Boston University vs #2 Boston College in a home-and-home series, we'll have three of our top-ten rivalries in college hockey competing this weekend. To celebrate one of the most exciting matchups of the season thus far, we compiled our picks for the ten best rivalries in the sport [not in any specific order].
There are some honorable mentions that just missed the cut; including Minnesota vs Wisconsin, Colorado College vs Air Force, North Dakota vs Denver, Clarkson vs St. Lawrence, and so on. A big reason for that is an effort to include every conference and to only use a single team once. For example, blue bloods like Minnesota, Michigan, and North Dakota have multiple rivalry matchups. Make sure to let us know which rivalries you would put in the top 10!
Minnesota vs North Dakota
Overall Record: Minnesota leads 145-137-16
Total Meetings: 298
Largest Victory: 10-1 Minnesota; 1992 and 9-0 North Dakota; 1989
Longest Win Streak: Minnesota with 11; 1973-1975
Year Established: 1947
Last Ten Matchups: North Dakota is 7-3-0 in last 10
This Season:
October 21st, Minnesota 4 @ North Dakota 0
October 22nd, Minnesota 1 @ North Dakota 2
Summary - Although this rivalry isn't what it used it be during the days of the old WCHA, the Minnesota vs North Dakota rivalry is still one of the most premier matchups in college hockey. The games are much more appreciated now, as the two teams can play at most three times per year, but still draw huge crowds whether the games are played in Grand Forks or Minneapolis. That was evident earlier this year when the two teams played to an exciting split in front of back-to-back crowds of 11,000+ at the Ralph. Their annual non-conference series is set to take a pause next season, but will resume in 2025-'26, according to Brad Schlossman. We'll just have to hope for an NCAA meeting between the two until then.
Source: University of Minnesota Athletics
Michigan vs Michigan State
Overall Record: Michigan leads 176-139-24
Total Meetings: 339
Year Established: 1922
Largest Victory: 17-1 Michigan; 1950
Longest Win Streak: Michigan with 19; 1928-1954
Last Ten Matchups: Michigan is 8-2-0 in last 10
This Season:
January 19th, Michigan 7 @ Michigan State 1
January 20th, Michigan State 7 @ Michigan 5
February 9th, Michigan State @ Michigan
February 10th, Michigan vs Michigan State @ Little Caesars Arena
Summary - After a recent stretch of dominance from the Wolverines, Michigan State is finally putting itself back up on the map. Michigan vs Sparty is tied for the most-played rivalry on this list and has traveled through three different conferences, now residing as one of the most hateful in the Big Ten. This past weekend, Michigan State beat the Wolverines for the first time in five games and the first time in Ann Arbor since 2019. The weekend was a high-scoring, high-intensity matchup — a great sign that the rivalry is on its way back to the glory days. With both teams currently in the ECH Top-15, it's likely that their next series will be just as good (including their annual 'Dual in the D' game at Little Caesars Arena).
Source: Emily Martin
Colorado College vs Denver
"Battle of Gold Pan"
Overall Record: Denver leads 196-122-21
Total Meetings: 339
Year Established: 1950
Largest Victory: 16-0 Colorado College; 1950
Longest Win Streak: Denver with 22; 1959-1963
Last Ten Matchups: Denver is 9-1-0 in last 10
This Season:
November 3rd, Colorado College 1 @ Denver 6
November 4th, Denver 5 @ Colorado College 1
March 8th, Denver @ Colorado College
March 9th, Colorado College @ Denver
Summary - Colorado College and Denver's rivalry has been a part of both the WCHA and NCHC as original members. Amidst other high-end rivalries in that time, like Minnesota vs Wisconsin and Denver vs North Dakota, the rivalry in the 'Mile High State' has always remained an underrated, high-intensity battle for over seven decades. However, their famous traveling trophy only began in 1993. The 'Battle for the Gold Pan' has been one-sided as of late. With a series sweep in November, Denver kept the trophy for the fifth-straight year. The two teams play one more series this year, the last of the regular season.
Source: Adri Meyer
Boston University vs Boston College
Battle of Commonwealth - 'Green Line Rivalry'
Overall Record: Boston University leads 139-131-21
Total Meetings: 291
Year Established: 1918
Largest Victory: 11-0 Boston College; 1943
Longest Win Streak: Boston University with 13; 1992-1995
Last Ten Matchups: Boston College is 5-4-1 in last 10
This Season:
January 26th, Boston University @ Boston College
January 27th, Boston College @ Boston University
February 5th, Boston College vs Boston University @ TD Garden (Beanpot Semifinal)
Summary - For the first time in their over 100-year history, Boston College and Boston University will face off as the #1 and #2 teams in the country. It's a rivalry we've been waiting for since October, with both teams stocked with first-round talent and national championship hopes. The "Battle for Comm. Ave." or "Green Line Rivalry" will have a home-and-home this weekend (their only conference matchups) and meet in the Beanpot Semifinal to open the tournament just nine days later. No offense to Harvard and Northeastern, but that might as well be the championship game with how good these two teams have been playing. There's nothing to say other than these three games are must-see TV, and may determine who's the #1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament in March. Hopefully we get more than just these three games between these two teams this season.
Source: John Quackenbos
Maine vs New Hampshire
Overall Record: Maine leads 71-57-12
Total Meetings: 140
Year Established: 1979
Largest Victory: 10-1 Maine; 1987
Longest Win Streak: Maine with 9; 1989-1991
Last Ten Matchups: Maine is 4-3-3 in last 10
This Season:
October 7th, New Hampshire 2 vs Maine 3 @ Alfond Arena in Waterville, ME (Exhibition)
December 1st, New Hampshire 2 @ Maine 5
February 16th, Maine @ New Hampshire
February 17th, Maine @ New Hampshire
Summary - With both teams resurging this season, the first iteration of the "Border Battle" in October was one of the most exciting games at Alfond Arena in years. Maine already has the lead in this year's season series with a 5-2 home win (and they also beat New Hampshire 3-2 in an exhibition game to open 2023-'24). However, the Wildcats have a home series marked in just a few weeks where they'll host the Black Bears for two consecutive games with home advantage. Both teams still have a good shot to make the NCAA Tournament — Maine is #5 in the Pairwise, New Hampshire is #16 — which would be their first appearances since 2012 and 2013, respectively. [Maine qualified for the 2020 NCAAs, but the tournament was canceled]. This rivalry, and college hockey overall, is so much better when both of these teams are playing competitive hockey.
Source: Sophia Santamaria / Maine Athletics
Air Force vs Army
Overall Record: Air Force leads 53-27-9
Total Meetings: 89
Year Established: 1976
Largest Victory: 9-2 Air Force; 1976
Longest Win Streak: Air Force with 5; 2014-2016 and 2023-
Last Ten Matchups: Air Force is 8-2-0 in last 10
This Season:
November 10th, Army 3 @ Air Force 4 in OT
November 11th, Army 0 @ Air Force 4
January 19th, Air Force 8 @ Army 1
January 20th, Air Force 7 @ Army 6
Summary - Although the annual football game gets the media attention, Air Force vs Army is just as intense as their counterparts on the gridiron. These student athletes are fighting for more than just a win, they're fighting for pride against the other academy. Sadly for Black Knights fans, Air Force has dominated the series as of late. The Falcons won all four games this season, extending their win streak to five and tied for the longest in series history. Since Army has joined Atlantic Hockey in 2007, Air Force has gone undefeated against the Black Knights in post-season play — including the conference championship game that season of a 6-1 Air Force win.
Source: Trevor Cokley Air Force Athletics
Cornell vs Harvard
Overall Record: Cornell leads 79-70-13
Total Meetings: 163
Year Established: 1910
Largest Victory: 18-0 Harvard, 1959
Longest Win Streak: Cornell with 13; 1966-1971
Last Ten Matchups: Harvard is 5-3-2 in last 10
This Season:
November 11th, Harvard 3 @ Cornell 2
January 26th, Cornell @ Harvard
Summary - The oldest and only Ivy League rivalry on the list, Cornell and Harvard have been playing against each other since 1910. Everything College Hockey was there when the fish were tossed at Lynah Ice Rink for their first matchup of the season, and #163rd meeting all-time, back in November. Despite going on the road against a top-ten team, Harvard came out on top 3-2 — their first and only win of the season until January 13th. The result shows — among all of these rivalries — that no matter how big of a skill difference there is, rivalry hate can always fuel an underdog team to come out on top.
Source: Eldon Lindsay Cornell Athletics
Quinnipiac vs Yale
"Battle of Whitney Avenue"
Overall Record: Quinnipiac leads 31-7-5
Total Meetings: 43
Year Established: 2006
Largest Victory: 6-1 Yale; 2011 and 5-0 Quinnipiac; 2020
Longest Win Streak: Quinnipiac with 13; 2018-
Last Ten Matchups: Quinnipiac is 10-0-0 in last 10
This Season:
November 11th, Yale 2 @ Quinnipiac 5
January 26th, Quinnipiac vs. Yale @ Connecticut Ice Tournament
Summary - The rivalry between Quinnipiac and Yale is the newest and fewest played on this list. However, it is also one of the closest in proximity, with just over 10 miles separating the two teams in Hamden, CT (Boston College vs Boston University is separated by just 4). Quinnipiac has dominated the rivalry through 18 seasons so far, and with a win earlier this year extending their winning streak over the Bulldogs to 13-straight games — the longest in program history. That being said, one of Yale's seven wins against the Bobcats came in the most important game in program history: the 2013 national championship. Yale blanked Quinnipiac 4-0, winning their only title in program history. It was also Yale's only win in a 17-game stretch between the two teams from 2012-2017. Although the Bobcats went home empty-handed that season, they leveled the title count for the "Battle of Whitney Avenue" schools with their first last April.
Source: Steve Musco Yale Athletics
Alaska Fairbanks vs Alaska Anchorage
Overall Record: Alaska Anchorage leads 91-77-13
Total Meetings: 181
Year Established: 1979
Largest Victory: 11-0 Alaska Anchorage; 1980
Longest Win Streak: Alaska Anchorage with 21; 1979-1982
Last Ten Matchups: Alaska Fairbanks is 9-0-1 in last 10
This Season:
November 3rd, Alaska Anchorage 1 @ Alaska Fairbanks 6
November 4th, Alaska Anchorage 4 @ Alaska Fairbanks 5
December 1st, Alaska Fairbanks 5 @ Alaska Anchorage 0
December 2nd, Alaska Fairbanks 3 @ Alaska Anchorage 1
January 13th, Alaska Anchorage 2 @ Alaska Fairbanks 2
February 3rd, Alaska Fairbanks @ Alaska Anchorage
Summary - The annual race for the 'Governor's Cup' has gotten heated the last few years, with both Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Fairbanks meeting anywhere from six to eight times per year. The Nanooks have taken control of this rivalry as of late, going 23-5-2 in the last 30 games against their in-state rival. They've also held the Governor's Cup against UAA for the last 13 seasons including this one, as UAF is already 4-0-1 against the Seawolves in 2023-'24. They will face off one more time next weekend in Anchorage to close out this season's matchups.
Source: Alaska Fairbanks Athletics
Michigan Tech vs Northern Michigan
Overall Record: Michigan Tech leads 82-79-4
Total Meetings: 174
Year Established: 1979
Largest Victory: 10-2 Northern Michigan; 1985
Longest Win Streak: Michigan Tech with 8; 2020-2021
Last Ten Matchups: Michigan Tech is 7-3-0 in last 10
This Season:
December 8th, Northern Michigan 2 @ Michigan Tech 4
December 9th, Michigan Tech 1 @ Northern Michigan 3
February 2nd, Michigan Tech @ Northern Michigan
February 3rd, Northern Michigan @ Michigan Tech
Summary - Two of three teams located in Michigan's U.P., Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan, are not only the closest to one another, but the biggest rivals in the state. Both MTU and NMU have bounced around conferences over their programs' histories, but have been in the CCHA for over ten years now. Their four meetings per year are some of the most electric in the conference, and so far this season, home-ice advantage has been the key. The Huskies won the first meeting in Houghton in early December, with the Wildcats splitting the series in Marquette the next night. Like the two Alaska teams, they'll also play their last games of the year next weekend in a home-and-home.
Source: Michigan Tech Huskies Athletics
