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Resuming their long-standing rivalry and annual battle for the Gold Pan, nationally ranked Colorado College and the University of Denver tangle for the first time this season in a regionally televised (FSN Rocky Mountain) and high-profile Western Collegiate Hockey Association series this weekend.

The WCHA co-leaders open their two-game set at the Colorado Springs World Arena on Friday, facing off at 7:37 p.m. (MT), before meeting in a 7:07 p.m. rematch at DU's Magness Arena on Saturday.   

CC is 10-3-1 overall and 7-2-1 in league play after splitting with the University of Alaska Anchorage at home last week. Denver, 9-4-1 overall, also is 7-2-1 in league play after a recent home-ice split with St. Cloud State University. The Tigers and Pioneers are just two points ahead of third-place Minnesota Duluth, which plays host to North Dakota this weekend. 

Colorado College remains No. 5 in this week's national poll released on Monday by USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine, but slipped to No. 6 in the one published by USCHO.com/CBS College Sports. Denver is No. 2 in both.

Friday's contest marks the 272nd official meeting between the teams in a rivalry that started on Jan. 6, 1950. While CC has dropped only one of the last 13 decisions (7-1-5) dating back to the 2005-06 season, the Pioneers own a 152-106-13 advantage overall. The Tigers are 16-6-3 in 25 all-time showdowns at the World Arena, as well as 12-6-3 in 21 at Magness.