Since 1979, there have been 174 hockey games played between Michigan Tech University and Northern Michigan University, making it one of the most storied rivalries in college hockey.
For much of their history, Tech and Northern were in different conferences. Tech has long been in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). Northern on the other hand has predominantly played in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).
Marquette was buzzing on Saturday. The sun was shining, the temperature was pushing fifty degrees, it was Saint Patrick’s Day (no snowstorms, however), and a town full of anticipation for the WCHA Championship between the Michigan Tech Huskies and Northern Michigan Wildcats.
It was the most anticipated game rivals had ever played against each one another, and it was the Huskies who would walk away with the inaugural presentation of the Jeff Sauer trophy.
You may have seen a few color changes lately.
On Tuesday night the great hockey rivalry was ignited once again between the Michigan Tech Huskies and the Northern Michigan Wildcats.
Before the game we thought it was fitting to have a makeover for the rest of February based on whichever teams win. As you may have guessed, MTU won that game. They won 8-2 which is their biggest win against NMU in the history of their rivalry.
As commented in an earlier post about Jeff Finger, Corey suggested that Dallas Drake should be considered an Honorary Yooper. We couldn’t agree more!
Drake, who is from Trail, British Comlumbia, played his college hockey at Northern Michigan University from 1988 through 1992. Under longtime coach Rick Comley (another honorary Yooper) Dallas Drake and the Wildcats went on to win the 1991 NCAA National Hockey Championship. It still holds as NMU’s only national hockey championship.