Alright, by now we hope you know the drill.. it's another game you best know or already know in the world of college sports and for that you're in for a treat.. one that might be of the pickled variety!!  

After experiencing Hilton Magic yesterday it's about time you experience one of the most bitterly cold and bitter rivalries in college hockey... 

No. 73: Michigan Tech vs. Northern Michigan (DI Hockey): 

Luckily for most of the Badger fans in the population this is a rivalry that doesn't need much in the way of introduction.  However, if you need it... The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is home of two teams that have been in and out of conference affiliation with each other and will soon find themselves back in the same conference thanks to realignment.  

Don't confuse the Huskies (MTU) and the Wildcats (NMU) as twins, at least to those that go the universities.  Literally you can hear just about all of jokes between the schools in a great bar serving pickled eggs in Hancock.  However, the one thing that connects the teams is the fact that they compete in one of the most remote areas in all of DI college hockey, the shores of Lake Superior.

On the ice the Wildcats of NMU lead the series (one that's seen both be in the WCHA and CCHA) 65-48-5 over the Huskies of Michigan Tech.  It's a series that's only dated to 1979 but it's about as bitter as you can get. Incredibly Michigan Tech had one of their best seasons in the WCHA last year despite losing to the Wildcats in both games last season.

The fact that both schools are overlooked and the makeup of the schools are so different makes this rivalry so intense.  Off the ice it's quite common to see this series as a "house divided" situation as many students date people from the opposite school.

Not only that but UP bragging rights that tend to drip in to the northern or northeastern parts of Wisconsin make the series' between the two schools very well attended. 

Amazingly these two teams don't play for traveling trophy currently, however the bitterness between the schools can't be overstated and the games played (at least once at each others arenas) can't be overlooked in terms of college hockey.  In fact both programs are on the upswing and could see themselves in positions to make NCAA tournament runs once realignment is done.