{"id":89502,"date":"2018-11-30T07:00:51","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T13:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/?p=89502"},"modified":"2020-08-24T13:53:12","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T18:53:12","slug":"uscho-com-game-of-the-week-michigan-michigan-state-renew-age-old-intense-rivalry-this-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2018\/11\/30\/uscho-com-game-of-the-week-michigan-michigan-state-renew-age-old-intense-rivalry-this-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"USCHO.com GAME OF THE WEEK: Michigan, Michigan State renew age-old, intense rivalry this weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Sr.<\/a>
The longstanding Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has even gone outside as the two clubs played the Big Chill at the Big House in Ann Arbor back in 2010 (photo: Michael Simari).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the crow flies, 50 miles separate Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich., and Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about a 70-mile drive. For the unique perspective of the teams that call each of those rinks home, the geographic proximity creates an incalculable virtual distance.<\/p>\n

When the Spartans and Wolverines take the ice in their home-and-home series this weekend, the teams will be meeting for the 320th and 321st times.<\/p>\n

Or maybe it\u2019s the 315th and 316th times. There\u2019s no way to be sure.<\/p>\n

The historical friction between Michigan State and Michigan is so acute that the two programs can\u2019t agree on the number of times they\u2019ve played each other. According to Michigan State records, the teams first met Jan. 11, 1922. The Wolverines say otherwise, pinning their first match to Jan. 24, 1925.<\/p>\n

According to the Spartans, Michigan leads this series 163-134-22, but the Wolverines say their record against Michigan State is 159-133-22.<\/p>\n

If you really want to understand the how these two programs feel about each other, said Michigan coach Mel Pearson, look no further than the game the teams played Feb. 16, 1991, at Joe Louis Arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a bench-clearing brawl,\u201d said Pearson. \u201cIt\u2019s not pretty, but I think it speaks to the intensity of the rivalry. Remember, Red and Ron got suspended for that game.\u201d<\/p>\n