It’s been some tough times for the University of North Dakota. The state’s Board of Higher Education had recently ruled that the school must drop its beloved but controversial “Fighting Sioux” nickname by October 1, unless it can get the okay from the state’s two Sioux Indian tribes to let the college keep it. But now things are looking up for the soon-to-be non-Sioux.

The two ladies pictured above are Jocelyne & Monique Lamoureux. So why should a pair of hockey playing sisters cheer up the (still) Sioux nation - especially a pair that plays for UND’s hated rival, the Minnesota Golden Gophers? Because the Lamoureux sisters are coming home to Grand Forks, having announced that they are transferring to North Dakota.

Oh, and they’re pretty cute, too.

But it’s not just lovely looks that the Fighting Sioux are acquiring. As the MINNEAPOLIS STAR-TRIBUNE points out, the Lamoureux twins led the Gophers in scoring as freshmen, and both were named WCHA first-team all-conference players. Monique was even named the WCHA’s rookie of the year. And all this was done on a team that went 32-5-3 and made it to the NCAA women’s Frozen Four.

(Monique Lamoureux)

The arrival of the Lamoureux ladies would definitely be a welcome addition to a North Dakota squad that struggled to a 13-19-4 record this season. So why would the duo depart such a strong Gophers team to skate for the so-so Sioux? Because Grand Forks, home to UND, is also home to the Lamoureux family. The sisters’ father & oldest brother both played goalie for North Dakota, while their youngest brother was a freshman forward for the Fighting Sioux this past season.

(Jocelyne Lamoureux)

Despite leaving, the Lamoureuxs have no ill will toward the Gophers:

“We feel this is in our best interests. It’s what is right for us,” Jocelyne Lamoureux said. “Obviously, the Fighting Sioux runs in our family. But Monique and I made the decision, and we have no parting jabs for Minnesota.”

But Gophers coach Brad Frost felt like he took a couple of jabs. When Monqiue & Jocelyne said they wanted out of their scholarships, Frost responded, “I can’t get into the specifics about it — I was definitely shocked when they informed me.”

So it seems that the Minnesota-North Dakota rivalry just got a little hotter - in more ways than one!

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