DDC's Top 10 Moments in the UND/Minnesota Rivalry -- No. 5 -- Trupper's diving OT winner -- Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis, February 1, 2008.

We're down to the Top 5 moments in the countdown with just five days left until the Frozen Four semifinal match up.

This OT winner by Evan Trupp is the first of two plays in the countdown that went on to become the No. 1 play on SportsCenter's Top 10 of the day and for no small reason. This play is a pretty amazing one and if you haven't seen it, or it's been awhile, enjoy.

No. 5 -- Trupper's diving OT winner -- Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis, February 1, 2008.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqS0_uFNpCg

The angle at 1:28 into the video is DDC's favorite. First, let's take a second to realize how great that pass was from Ryan Martens. A backhanded flip over the net? Yes, please. Trupp, who became known as a stick-handling and play-making wiz during his Sioux career, did the rest and found himself a little piece of Sioux/Gopher rivalry history.

Notice the goalie between the pipes for this one? Again... Alex Kangas.

DDC was at a conference and vividly remembers watching this play on SportCenter that night at a bar in St. Louis with 20 other UND students. Needless to say, we let everyone know that we were Sioux fans.

Only four spots remain in the Top 10 moments of the UND/Minnesota rivalry. What moments are left? Come back tomorrow to see the other play that was No. 1 in SportsCenter's top 10.

DDC's Top 10 Moments in the UND/Minnesota Rivalry -- No. 6 -- The Ralph is Rockin' -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Minneapolis, January 9, 2009.

Thanks for coming back as the countdown continues.

No. 6 is one that DDC remembers very well because of one reason -- the fans at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.

If the No. 10 moment, the Holy Cross victory of Minnesota was the loudest REA has ever been, this game in January 2009 is a close second.

Goal, after goal, after goal. The Ralph exploded.

 No. 6 -- The Ralph is Rockin' -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Minneapolis, January 9, 2009.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr55K6B6V2g

UND fans' favorite goaltender, Alex Kangas, was very good in the first period on this night as the Sioux dominated, out shooting the Gophers 18-2. However, when the goals came, the kept coming. Sophomore Evan Trupp scored short handed just 1:17 into the second and the rest was history. At :15 of the video and just over five minutes into the second period, you can see the shot totals were favoring UND 23-3.

DDC's remembers vividly seeing Kangas sit in the crease after a Ryan Duncan goal to make it 3-1 and FSN did an amazing job catching this moment at :44 into the video. Kangas was later pulled.

Poor Alex Kangas.

He was pulled again the next night, as UND finished off the sweep with a 6-1 whooping.

Just six days left, Sioux fans. Come back tomorrow for No. 5 with a little magic from a diminutive Alaskan.

DDC's Top 10 Moments in the UND/Minnesota Rivalry -- No. 7 -- Alex Kangas Loves UND -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D., March 12, 2010.

Just seven days to go.

The countdown to April 10 continues with No. 7 in DDC's Top 10 moments in the UND/Minnesota rivalry. This one comes from many UND fans' favorite Gopher goaltender of all time.

No. 7 -- Alex Kangas Loves UND -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D., March 12, 2010.

For whatever reason, this video is searchable on YouTube, but cannot be added here, so here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDPnURQfZ5o

Alex Kangas was a fan favorite at UND. Although he clearly didn't like us, he was the one guy that all Sioux fans loved to hate during his tenure as Minnesota netminder and DDC can absolutely see why Mr. Kangas hates UND. The Rochester, Minn., native was the Fighting Sioux's personal punching bag during his time. 

Kangas was a mere 3-6-2 against UND with Minnesota including a paltry .899 save percentage and a putrid 3.09 goals against average. Kangas was also pulled from between the pipes three times in his career against the Sioux.

DDC's favorite part about this particular video is Woog and Mazzacco's commentary when the 3-0 score after the first period pops up. Great stuff. Pretty much Kangas' summation of his career against UND right there.

DDC's Top 10 Moments in the UND/Minnesota Rivalry -- No. 8 -- Pony Punishes Wehrs in Frattin's Corner

Thanks for coming back to DDC's Top 10 moments in the UND/Minnesota rivalry!

No. 8 is a a good one and it led to a classic scrum between the two bitter enemies.

No. 8 -- Pony Punishes Wehrs in Frattin's Corner -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D., January 14, 2011.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pN6q83gl7E

Kevin Wehrs has to have continued nightmares of that corner of the REA. One year after Matt Frattin leveled him during the first round of the WCHA playoffs, Pony reintroduced him into his least favorite part of the arena. The one thing DDC remembers most about this punishing hit from senior centerman Brad Malone was the sound. Listen to it at :10 in. Sounds like a gun shot. He absolutely destroyed Wehrs with a CLEAN HIT. Mind you, there was no penalty on this play for this hit. Seeing Wehrs sitting there with the look of pure defeat, less than 9 months after being leveled in the same spot, is absolutely priceless. This face pretty much says it all.

The scrum that follows as UND is skating to the locker room is started by Minnesota. The hit was clean, the play was over and UND was moving on. Minnesota senior forward Jacob Cepis decided he had to rile things up. Heck of a hockey player, but this kid was a hack and a diver during his two years with the Gophers, in my opinion. Note :47 into the video as Cepis has his stick wrapped around Andrew MacWilliam's neck. Classy move. Nate Condon (No. 16) and Seth Helgeson (No. 4) deliver shots to the back and the back of the head of two UND players on the ice during 1-on-1 fights. Classic Gopher fighting strategy. Chalk up another scrum to the rivalry.

Come back tomorrow for DDC's No. 7 Top 10 moments in the UND/Minnesota rivalry. Preview... UND's favorite rival goaltender expresses his love for his most-heated opponent.

DDC's Top 10 Moments in the UND/Minnesota rivalry -- No. 10 and No. 9 -- Holy Cross and Spirko

It's coming. The best rivalry in college hockey is alive and well.

After both North Dakota and Minnesota won their regional tournaments this past weekend, the two long-time enemies will meet again. This time, with a berth in the national title game on the line.

We're nine days away from the April 10 showdown from the Frozen Four at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Nine days is an eternity for fans of this rivalry, DDC included. So, DDC decided to bring something special to its fans ... a countdown of the Top 10 moments in the UND/Minnesota rivalry.

These moments are shaded kelly green. If you don't like it, sorry. But not really.

Since we are nine days away, DDC will bring you double in this countdown, starting with two moments.

No. 10 -- Holy Cross defeats Minnesota in the 2006 West Regional -- Ralph Engelstad Arena, Grand Forks, N.D., March 24, 2006.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1_x1oo35L0

Yes, DDC gets it, this isn't a UND/Minnesota game, but it just as well could have been in terms of fans support. The REA has never been louder as it was when Holy Cross captain Tyler McGregor netted the game winner to beat the No. 1 seeded Gophers. David slayed Goliath and UND fans world wide rejoiced.

No. 9 -- Rastislav Spirko's shorty leads UND comeback to WCHA Final Five win -- Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn., March 19, 2005.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsVzWFE3UmI

"Shorthanded, a dancing move and a goal! Spirko!" "Ratislav, Sparky, Rusty, whatever you want to call him, he's got nicknames, shows his dance." Frank Mazzocco and Doug Woog's call of this nasty goal from diminutive Rastislav Spirko (one of DDC's all-time favorite Sioux) in the 2005 WCHA Final Five is a gem. Coming in all alone shorthanded, Spirko made a pylon out of Gopher defenseman Chris Harrington and completely undressed goalie Kellen Briggs to knot the game at 2. The goal led UND to a comeback 4-2 win.

Check in again tomorrow for No. 8 on the list of DDC's Top 10 UND/Minnesota rivalry moments. A little preview... The Pony Express has another surprise in a former Gopher's favorite corner.