The B1G Shakeup: The Conference Carousel & Its Ups And Downs

By Jessi Pierce

While the college hockey season is well underway, focus for many remains off the ice as the conference carousel continues to swirl round and round.

Since, what I am dubbing the "B1G Announcement" by the Big Ten last March, we have seen new conferences form and others diminish. First, here's the shakedown as it currently stands:

The B1G Scoreboard (10/20-23 Weekend)

Game articles are linked once available.

Men's Scores from 10/20/11:

• Michigan State 3, Ohio State 0 - MSU Recap & OSU Recap

Women's Scores from 10/20/11:

• Minnesota 3, Minnesota State 0 - Gophers defeat Minnesota St. ...

Men's Scores from 10/21/11:

• Ohio State 5, Michigan State 2 - MSU Recap & OSU Recap
• No. Michigan 5, Michigan 3 - Wolverines Rally Proves Fruitless...
• Wisconsin 5, North Dakota 3 - Badgers score big, topple #5...
• Minnesota 6, Vermont 0 - Minnesota wins first-ever meeting...
• Penn State 7, Ohio 1 (ACHA) - Box Score

Women's Scores from 10/20/11:

• Minnesota 7, Minnesota State 0 - #2 Gophers Sweep...
• Wisconsin 4, Minn.-Duluth 3 - Knight's shorthanded goal lifts...
• North Dakota 11, Ohio State 1 - Ohio State Falls in Game One...

Men's Scores from 10/22/11:

• Michigan 3, No. Michigan 3 - Wolverines tie No. Michigan, Win...
• Michigan wins Shootout 1-0
• Wisconsin 5, North Dakota 4 - Wisconsin Completes Sweep...
• Penn State 5, Ohio 3 (ACHA) - Box Score

Women's Scores from 10/22/11:

• Wisconsin 6, Minn.-Duluth 3 - Rigby records 46 saves...
• North Dakota 7, Ohio State 1 - Ohio State Falls in Game Two...

Men's Scores from 10/23/11:

• Vermont 5, Minnesota 4 - Gophers Suffer First Loss Of The Season

The B1G Skate Standings (as of 10/22)

The Unofficial Big Ten
Hockey Championship Trophy

Who says we can't start keeping track now??? First, you need something to play for.  Pride, of course.  So to symbolize the pride and domination of your opponents, I give you The B1G Skate.  The unofficial winner of the Big Ten "Conference" for the first few years (until there is an actual trophy) will be presented with a personalized image of this golden skate (and you will accept it with honor and respect).  Here are the basic rules, followed by the standings:

1. We're using a CCHA-style system.  Wins are 3 points, Ties are just a point, and losses are worthless.
2. Any ties in the standing will come down to goal differential.  Embarrass your opponent!
3. Since not every team plays against each other, the PPG will be the deciding factor, helping to balance out games amongst Big Ten opponents by the results in those contests.

Now, We present you with the current standings for the 2011-2012 Big Ten Season:

Cornhuskers Hockey?

In an article, from the Lincoln Journal Star, a new ice center is to be built in Lincoln in the near future.  The more important aspect of this is the concept image of the ice center itself.  It looks to be a gorgeous two-level facility, with the lower level rink having a seating bowl and painted with the Nebraska "N" and "Nebraska Hockey" on the back wall.  Is there potential for a future conference game between the Gophers and the Huskers in Lincoln on the ice?  Who knows, but getting the rest of the conference to convert their teams to Division 1 can only benefit the Big Ten as a hockey conference.  The article link follows the jump.

The B1G TV Schedule (as of 11/4)

All game times are for the home team's time zone.

(Michigan = EST, Minnesota = CST)

2011-2012 College Hockey TV Schedule for Big Ten Schools
Big Ten vs. Big Ten Games are in Bold