Good morning, Bulldogs fans.

This weekend, the men's hockey teams from the University of Minnesota Duluth and University of Minnesota Twin Cities will meet on the ice for the first time in almost two years.

It's 727 days, to be exact, since the Bulldogs swept a home-and-home series with the Golden Gophers on Oct. 25-26, 2019. They'll play another home-and-home series this weekend at 7 p.m. Friday at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis and 7:07 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

For Bulldogs fans, I know the Gophers remain a huge rival. Just look at the ticket sales for Saturday's game. As of Tuesday, standing room only tickets were all that remained for Saturday's game at Amsoil.

But what about the UMD players? Where does this rivalry rank these days? How does it compare to North Dakota? I asked fifth-year senior defenseman Matt Anderson and senior captain Noah Cates those questions this week.

"I don't think I can choose between either one," said Anderson, of Shakopee. "They're both awesome series, for sure."

"I'd have to say North Dakota because of the bigger games recently with the NCHC," said Cates, who grew up as a Gophers season ticket holder. "Maybe if the Gophers were in the NCHC, I would say them. I would have to go with North Dakota, with their fans. Obviously the (five-OT) game last year adds to it. That's always a really big series."

Rivalries are built through repetition and by playing big games against each other. In the previous six seasons, the Bulldogs have only played eight games against the Gophers (after playing eight times in the first two seasons following realignment). Six of those eight games were part of regular season series while the other two were in regular season tournaments.

Meanwhile, North Dakota and UMD have met 22 times over the previous six seasons, including three times at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff and in last year’s epic NCAA regional final in Fargo that UMD won in five overtimes.

Balance helps a rivalry as well. Since moving together to the NCHC in 2013-14, UMD holds a slight 14-13-1 record against the Fighting Hawks. UMD is 11-3-2 against Minnesota since the Gophers left the WCHA for the Big Ten.

I'm curious to hear more from the fans. Who do you consider the Bulldogs' biggest rival? Should St. Cloud State also be in this conversation? Hit me up on Twitter (@mattwellens) or email me (mwellens@duluthnews.com).

THIS WEEK ON BULLDOG INSIDER

Captain Noah Cates previews showdown with Gophers

This week on the Bulldog Insider Podcast, I catch up with Bulldogs captain Noah Cates to talk about his roller coaster of a weekend at the Ice Breaker Tournament, as well as what I wrote about above -- the rivalry with the Gophers.

For those of you who like episodes where we talk less about favorite arena food and more about the game of hockey, you're in luck. Cates and I take a deep dive into the game-winning wrap-around goal he scored Saturday against Providence. He breaks down what he learned earlier in the game to create the opportunity, and how that whole sequence would have played out if he was still a centerman for the Bulldogs.

Zach Schneider, the voice of Bulldogs hockey on My 9 Sports, also returns to the podcast to resume his co-hosting duties. Zach and I will be Zooming together each week while he is in the Twin Cities taking care of his newborn daughter. Zach tells us about what it is like to call six games in a span of three days on television. It's a lot more work than me writing about six games in three days.

Unfortunately, Kelly Hinseth's run as co-host has been cut short. She is no longer in Duluth, but back home in the Twin Cities to help take care of her mother, Julie, who is battling glioblastoma. It takes real strength to do what Kelly is doing. We’re rooting for her, and Julie. Kelly is already missed up here on the Bulldogs hockey beat.

You can find this week's episode of the Bulldog Insider Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. You can also find it on duluthnewstribune.com and therinklive.com.

FOLLOW, WATCH, LISTEN

How to keep up with Bulldogs hockey this weekend

UMD men vs. Minnesota

7 p.m. Friday at 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis

7:07 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth

Follow

Twitter: Follow The Rink Live's @mattwellens and @JessRMyers for updates

Live stats: Gophers sports information on Friday and UMD sports information on Saturday

Watch

Online streaming: Big Ten Plus on Friday and NCHC.tv on Saturday (subscriptions required)

TV: Bally Sports North on Friday and My9 Sports on Saturday

Listen

Radio: KDAL 610AM/103.9 FM

UMD women vs. St. Thomas

2:01 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

St. Thomas Ice Arena, Mendota Heights

Follow

Twitter: Follow @mattwellens for updates

Live stats: UST sports information

Watch

Online streaming: Big Ten Plus (subscription required)

TV: None

Listen

Radio: None

WEEKEND REWIND, LOOK AHEAD

Get caught up on all our Bulldogs hockey coverage

Here's some of the Bulldogs hockey coverage you may have missed in the last week from DuluthNewsTribune.com and TheRinkLive.com, as well as what is to come yet this week.

Bulldogs captain finds redemption Saturday at Ice Breaker

In my Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Three Stars from the Ice Breaker weekend at Amsoil Arena, I highlight Noah Cates' bouncing back from an ejection Friday to score the game-winning goal on Saturday, as well as the impressive performance by the "Big 3" of UMD women's hockey on Sunday against Wisconsin. My "Thumbs Down" for the week goes to those who refuse to follow the rules at Amsoil Arena and wear a mask.

UMD prepares for home-and-home series with Minnesota

Over at The Rink Live, you can find a series of videos from Wednesday's UMD men's press conference, produced by News Tribune multimedia producer Dan Williamson. Later Thursday at DuluthNewsTribune.com and TheRinkLive.com, I'll have a story taking a look at the weekend series.

UMD women travel to St. Thomas before long break

Coming Friday to DuluthNewsTribune.com and TheRinkLive.com, I'll have a preview of the UMD women's hockey series at St. Thomas this weekend in Mendota Heights. The Bulldogs will be taking a three-week "Olympic qualifying break" following this series. It's the first meeting between the Bulldogs and the newest NCAA Division I women's hockey program. Here's some early videos from Dan from Wednesday's press conferences:
- Improving scoring depth is a focus for UMD women's hockey
- UMD women's hockey ready for first series with St. Thomas

FOLLOW THE RINK LIVE ON INSTAGRAM

Every Monday we'll rewind the week that was in college hockey

The Rink Live has started a new "show" at noon on Mondays over on our Instagram account (@therinklive), unofficially dubbed The Rink Live Monday Rewind. Every Monday at noon I'll be hosting a short half hour Instagram Live session along with Jess Myers, Mick Hatten and whoever else from our team can make it.

It's a casual discussion taking a look back at what went down in college hockey over the weekend, plus a look ahead. Audience participation is encouraged, so join us live and fire away any questions you have. Each weekly episode is also archived on Instagram, except this past week's due to an audio glitch (sorry).

If you can't make it live, but want to submit questions for myself or the team, email me mwellens@duluthnews.com or message me on my own Instagram, @mattwellens.

We hope you enjoy our emails. This e-mail was sent to MWELLENS@DULUTHNEWS.COM because you signed up to receive communication from a site within the Forum Communications news network.

To ensure you receive further email alerts, please add us to your address book. If you'd like to update your email frequency or unsubscribe visit our preferences page.