Oakland University’s Division 1 men’s hockey team has a standing rivalry with Davenport University in what has become known as the Battle for the “Good Luck Duck.”

The “Good Luck Duck” is essentially a duck trophy that the Davenport team stole out of the Grizzlies locker room seven seasons ago. The Battle for the Duck is a best-of-five series played every season. The winner of the trophy paints the Duck in their school colors, as a sort of mockery to the other team.

“The Duck belonged to some friends of mine, Brent Hable and Kyle Wilson, and somehow ended up in our locker room,” said Director of Hockey Operations Corey Hagood. “But a few years ago, after our game against Davy, they broke into our locker room and stole it.”

The moniker of ‘Good Luck’ to the trophy is due to the fact that since 2007, the team that has won the Duck has won nationals. Oakland won the Division 2 National Championship that year. Since joining division 1 in 2008, Davenport has won the Duck each season and in turn, has won nationals.

“Both teams have always been good and won multiple national championships,” said Hagood.

Hagood described the rivalry as being similar to the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche rivalry in the 90’s.

The series is currently tied at one game apiece this season. The first two games were played the first weekend of December, on the second and third. In the first game played at the Onyx Ice Irena, OU shutout Davenport 5-0. The Saturday game was played in Grand Rapids, with Davenport defeating the Grizzlies 3-2.

Forward Alex Hoffman scored both goals for Oakland in the second game. The first game saw goals by five different Oakland players — Dustin Hopfner, Brian Jacobs, Anthony Colizza, Frank Matyok and Adam Novak.

The series continues this weekend, with Oakland hosting Davenport at the Onyx at 8pm on Friday, February 3. The Saturday game will be played in Grand Rapids. If Oakland can get wins over Davenport in both games, they will win the Good Luck Duck for the first time since the 2007 season. If the series is split once again, a fifth game will be played February 24 at the Onyx.

The Golden Grizzlies are preparing for the game with one goal in mind, and that is to win.

“For that, you don’t really have to do anything to psych yourself up for that. I’ve been here for four years and have never won that Good Luck Duck,” said defenseman Jacob DeSano. “Every year Davenport has won it, they’ve won nationals.”

Oakland has a picture of the Duck in their locker room, painted in the Davenport colors, to use as motivation.

The importance of this year’s Good Luck Duck series has never been higher.

“We are having hard good practices and going over game film. The coaches are preparing them well,” said Hagood.  “I don’t think you do anything different; every game is huge but this is bigger than years past since first place in the conference and an auto bid to Nationals is on the line.”

“If you want to see what OU Hockey is about, this is the game to come to the game that will make you like hockey,” Hagood said. “Support your school, have fun, be loud. It is a fun time and you’ll be hooked if you come out.”