Denver to Host Minnesota in 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game

The University of Denver will host the University of Minnesota at Ball Arena in downtown Denver over Thanksgiving weekend 2025 in the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game.

Denver and Minnesota are two of the winningest college hockey programs in history. The teams have combined for 15 national championships, 42 Frozen Four appearances and featured a total of 25 NHL Draft picks on their respective rosters during the 2023–2024 season. The 2025 game will be the first time the teams play each other since March 2, 2013, when both were members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

“We’re excited to partner for this exciting event between two of the top programs in college hockey history,” said Matthew Payne, executive director of the Denver Sports Commission. “Denver is a hotbed for hockey and has been named ‘Hockey Capital USA.’ We are looking forward to hosting not only the dedicated Pioneer faithful but the thousands of Minnesota supporters and visiting hockey fans from across the country to the Mile High City.”

Denver captured its fifth national title in the past 20 years this season and 10th overall to set the NCAA record for most by a college hockey program in history. Minnesota lost to Boston in the NCAA regional finals.

“The University of Denver is honored to host the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game and excited to rekindle a rivalry between two of the most storied programs in all of college hockey on the heels of Denver’s 10th national championship,” said Josh Berlo, Denver vice chancellor for athletics.

Denver will serve as the host of the game for the third time in its history and will be playing in the contest for the fourth time, having won two of the previous three. Its lone loss was in the 2004 game, a 5-2 loss to the Gophers at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“Those of us with the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum are very excited to have two of college hockey’s premier programs face off in our Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena in 2025,” said Doug Palazzari of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. “We wish to thank both schools for agreeing to take part in this prestigious event.”

Denver will be playing its second-ever game at Ball Arena, home the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche since the building opened in 1999. The Pioneers defeated in-state rival Colorado College 2-0 on January 27, 2023 in front of a crowd of 17,952, the highest attended indoor hockey game in the state of Colorado in DU history.

“We are excited to be partnering with the University of Denver to host the 2025 United States Hockey Hall of Fame game at Ball Arena,” said Colorado Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. “The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame weekend is always a special event and the Avalanche and Ball Arena are proud to be a part of the festivities.”