Grand Forks is on the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s hockey team’s travel ticket for this weekend.

The Bulldogs are in for a series with the fourth ranked University of North Dakota, where UMD head coach Scott Sandelin played in the 1980s, and served as an assistant coach in the 1990s.

They plan to tap into deep rivalry energy at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

“They’ve always been good. So again, we’ve always had good battles with them, you know, some even close to crossing the line,” Sandelin said.

“Obviously we’re going into a hornets nest there and they’re a good team. They’re doing well this year, but this is the type of weekend you always get up for, you always get excited for. I think just going in there, and for guys who haven’t been there, to just make sure to tame the emotions and make sure guys are coming out prepared for a loud crowd. Energy is going to be high right off the puck drop,” graduate forward, captain Luke Loheit said.

The Fighting Hawks swept UMD when the visited Duluth in early November, 2023. However North Dakota suffered their own tough two loss weekend at Colorado College last weekend.

Last weekend the Bulldogs skated then-fourth ranked Denver into overtime Friday, but fell 5-4, then fell Saturday 5-2.

Puck Drop between UMD and North Dakota is Friday is at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. in North Dakota.