This historic team has been playing some of the country’s best ice hockey since 1946. And in that time, the team has earned several winning seasons, plenty of titles and accolades, and a whole host of achievements that has kept the Fighting Hawks a fan favorite. Even today, the Fighting Hawks are the team to watch for NHL fans and scouts who might be looking for the next big hockey legend. But this team’s games are never as thrilling as they are when they defend their home ice at Ralph Engelstad Arena. That’s why tickets fly off the shelves as soon as they go on sale.
But you don’t have to miss out on the fun. Because this site makes it easy to keep track of coming Fighting Hawks games and events. And with a few simple clicks, you can book all the tickets you and your friends need to be a part of the action.
About UND Arena
Ralph Englestad Arena (REA), also known as the Ralph, is an indoor arena located on the University of North Dakota (UND) campus in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The venue serves as the home arena for the UND men’s ice hockey team. It was also the home for the now defunct UND women’s hockey team. In addition, it’s used for select games for UND men’s and women’s basketball games as well as a variety of non-athletic events including concerts and an annual circus.
The arena was built by UND alumnus Ralph Engelstad. It currently boasts capacity for 11,643 fans and opened on October 5, 2001. Many have called the venue the “Taj Mahal of hockey” due to its high construction price point that makes use of materials not often found in similar facilities. For instance, the councourses are covered in granite flooring and each spectator seat is made of cherry wood and leather upholstery. It also features full-color LCD displays all around the arena. And famous NHL player Wayne Gretzky called it “one of the most beautiful buildings we have in North America.”
Despite being on UND’s campus, the building and the land its on is owned completely by The Englestad Family Foundation and is rented to the university for $1 each year. This arrangement gives the family complete control over decisions regarding the venue.
The impressive size and quality of REA made the NHL consider using the venue to host playoff games during the COVID-19 pandemic, since North Dakota had a low population density.
Ice Hockey Summary
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team playing for the University of North Dakota. They compete in the NCAA Division I level as members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC).
For years, North Dakota has been considered a premier college hockey school and has one of the most storied programs in NCAA history. To date, UND has made over 30 appearances in the NCAA tournament, made it to the Frozen Four 22 times, and has won 8 NCAA Division I Championships. The program has also earned many WCHA regular season championships, several NCHC Regular Season championships, as well as a dozen conference tournament championships.
All told, it is one of the most highly decorated college hockey programs in the US and is always a strong team to watch every year.
Hockey Achievements
It should come as no surprise that the UND Fighting Hawks have such a storied history filled with great seasons and greater achievements. But it can be surprising for fans to look at the massive list of achievements. This list is a brief rundown of the program’s best seasons.
NCAA Tournament championships
1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
1958, 1968, 1979, 2001, 2005
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
1958, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016
NCAA Tournament appearances
1958, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022
Conference Tournament championships
1967, 1968, 1979, 1980, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2021
Conference regular season championships
1957–58, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1986–87, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22