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While Wisconsin and North Dakota may no longer be conference rivals, they will continue to play each other on an almost annual basis. The schools announced in a joint press release Thursday they have an agreement to play four of the next five seasons.
Wisconsin will host the first two-game set in Madison next season, and the two teams will play in Grand Forks in 2015-16. After a year break, the rivalry will be renewed in Madison for the 2017-18 season, with the teams returning to Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks for the 2018-19 season.
This season, Wisconsin and North Dakota both moved out of WCHA, with the Badgers headed to the Big Ten and UND joining the start-up NCHC.
"Being able to schedule North Dakota keeps the rivalry alive that we have from the old WCHA days," said Wisconsin men's hockey coach Mike Eaves. "We look forward to playing one of the top programs and testing ourselves.
"Going back to my playing days, there has been great hockey games and great emotion over the years in the series and it is great to be able to continue that into the future."
Future non-conference schedules:
HOME | ROAD | |
2014-15 | North Dakota, Boston University, Michigan Tech |
CC/Denver (one night each), Northern Michigan (in Green Bay), Kendall Hockey Classic (Alaska, Alaska Anchorage, Maine) |
2015-16 | Denver, Northern Michigan | North Dakota, Boston College/Boston University (one night each) |
2016-17 | Boston College | CC/Denver (one night each), Northern Michigan (in Green Bay) |
2017-18 | North Dakota | |
2018-19 | North Dakota |
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