The B1G Scoreboard (10/23/15-10/25/15)

Men's Scores From 10/23/15:

• Wisconsin @ Ferris State, 7:00 ET
• Lake Superior @ Michigan State, 7:00 ET
• Ohio State @ ) Providence, 7:00 ET on OSN
• American International @ Penn State, 7:00 ET
• (11) Michigan @ (18) Union, 7:30 ET
• Northeastern @ (19) Minnesota, 7:00 CT on FSN+, STO

The B1G Scoreboard (10/16/15-10/18/15)

Men's Scores From 10/16/15:

• Wisconsin 0, Boston College 6 -- Boston College Hands Wisconsin First Loss of the Season
• Michigan State 2, Denver 4 -- Late Goals Push No. 5 Denver Past Spartans
• Miami 3, Ohio State 2 -- Buckeyes Clipped by No. 18 Miami, 3-2
• Notre Dame 7, Penn State 4 -- Penn State Drops Home Opener to Notre Dame
• Mercyhurst 4, Michigan 6 -- Connor Scores Twice to Lead Michigan to Season-Opening Win
• Minnesota-Duluth 3, Minnesota 1 -- Gates Scores First Goal as Gophers Fall in Opener

10 Things To Look Forward To This Big Ten Hockey Season

It's usually said that third time's a charm. As the Big Ten Conference prepares to opens its third official hockey season, we have high hopes that season no.3 will in fact be a good one.

Incoming rookies, television showcases, and a whole new year, there's no doubt that are lots of things we are looking forward to in the 2015-16 season. To save you the reading time, we've decided to cut that list. Here are our top 10 things to look forward to this year:

Ohio State Hockey Schedule: #TheGrind

By Miles McQuinn

To say that Ohio State's non-conference is among the toughest in the nation is more of an understatement than saying that the previous Big Ten Tournaments have lacked in attendance.

The Buckeye roster includes 27 players, with 10 freshmen, seven sophomores, seven juniors and three seniors.

Even with a ton of veterans coming back, it would still be tough to prepare for their 2015-16 schedule.

Throw in the amount of freshmen that need to get ready, and the situation gets even tougher for OSU head coach Steve Rohlik, who, by the way, has a new assistant coach in former Wisconsin standout defenseman Mark Strobel.

Let's take a look at what the Scarlet and Gray are up against this season as I highlight five of their marquee match-ups.

B1G TV 2015-16 Schedule Released

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The 2015-16 Big Ten hockey season will feature an extensive slate of television coverage, with more than 60 total games.The lineup is highlighted by a package of at least 22 national broadcasts to be carried on BTN, with another six on ESPNU and ESPNEWS, along with an additional 33 games to be carried on FOX Sports Regional Networks, American Sports Network and CN900.

BTN will broadcast at least 22 games with the first taking place on Friday, Dec. 11, when Michigan hosts Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET. Highlighting the BTN regular season schedule will be the Super Saturday - College Hoops & Hockey doubleheader on Jan. 30, when Michigan and Penn State will meet at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The teams will play a men’s basketball game at noon, followed by a hockey matchup at 7 p.m.

3v3 OT: Should the Big Ten Conference Adopt it?

By Jessi Pierce

As fans of the game, we can all agree that we like to take in some "free hockey" during the season. A last-second goal to push the game into overtime injects another level of excitement in the arena. But push it much past the first overtime -- or god-forbid five -- and things can get a bit stale.

Taking a page from the NHL's newly adopted 3-on-3 overtime rule -- approved by the NHL Board of Governor's earlier this summer -- the NCHC announced a 3-on-3 overtime for its league play, too. The team that wins in the 3-on-3 stanza, which takes place after an original 5-minute, 5-on-5 overtime, will receive an extra point in conference standings.

2015-16 Penn State Freshman Preview

By Miles McQuinn

Number of players lost: 9 – (7 due to graduation, 1 to the NHL (Casey Bailey, Toronto) and 1 by dismissal due to violation of team rules (Scott Conway))

Number of incoming freshmen: 7

Last year, in just its third season as a division I program, Penn State looked like it was a program on the verge of great things. Had they been able to keep their leading scorer, Casey Bailey, around for another season and had leading freshman scorer, Scott Conway, not violated team rules, the Nittany Lions could have been considered a top two finisher in the Big Ten this season. But those losses, plus the graduation of dishmaster Taylor Holstrom puts a major dent in the offense. The graduation of Partrick Koudys and Nate Jensen from the defensive core are considerable losses as well.

I don't see any of Penn State's freshmen forwards being able to make up for the losses, but I do see them having a potential role regarding the depth of the team as fourth liners. The defensemen have some quality talent, and I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them play a primary role this season.

So let's check out Penn State's incoming freshmen for the 2015-16 campaign.

2015-16 Ohio State Freshman Preview

By Miles McQuinn

Number of Players Lost: 8 (all due to graduation)

Number of Incoming Freshmen: 10

The spring of 2013-14 was a devastating one for head coach Steve Rohlik and his Ohio State squad. Losing Hobey Baker candidate Ryan Dzingel and point producer Max McCormick to Binghamton (AHL) proved to be a significant blow heading into the 2014-15 season. OSU's talent up front was diluted and injuries didn't help either.

This upcoming season the Buckeyes notice a hit of players too, graduating eight and losing a core group of guys. Of them, forwards like Matt Johnson and Nick Oddo, as well as defenseman Justin DaSilva, are tough to lose. The departure of team captain Tanner Fritz is the toughest to deal with. But, unlike last season, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. With some of the talent they have coming in, along with some veteran goaltending and a few point producers already on the team, OSU is making steps in the right direction as a program.

Let's have a look at Ohio State's incoming freshman class, leading up to the impact players at the end.

Big Ten Hockey at the 2015 NHL Draft

By Miles McQuinn 

The 2015 NHL Draft is in the books, and the Big Ten Conference had a solid showing.

Of the 56 college hockey players drafted, 16 are from the Big Ten, second most among all of college hockey's conferences.

Of the 210 draftees, 7.6% are heading to/are in the Big Ten.

Let's break things down by the numbers and I'll add in some thoughts as well.

A "Mich" Needed Defenseman

By Miles McQuinn

While there was mass speculation that the Columbus Blue Jackets would make an attempt to try and move up to the third spot in the 2015 NHL Draft in Sunrise, Fla., the Arizona Coyotes ended up keeping their pick and proceeded to draft Erie Otters forward Dylan Strome.

When the Philadelphia Flyers selected Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Ivan Provorov with the seventh pick, there was no question that the Blue Jackets would take Michigan's Zach Werenski at spot number eight.

B1G Help Wanted: Write for Big Ten Hockey Blog

Love college hockey? Better yet, love Big Ten college hockey? Ok, so maybe you feel slightly less than thrilled about the latter, but guess what -- that's ok (as long as it's within reason).

Big Ten Hockey Blog is growing and we are looking for young, eager writers to grow with us. Have a topic you want to cover? We'd love to hear it.

If you're interested in writing and adding to your portfolio, contact us, Send your resume and a few samples to jessip224@gmail.com.

Look forward to hearing from you all!

Rutgers Hockey: Could It Be Reality?

By Jessi Pierce

Rutgers University put college sports on the map -- literally. The Scarlet Knights were one of the first universities in the U.S. to compete in intercollegiate athletics. Herolded as the "Birthplace of College Football," there's no doubt that Rutgers is a school with pride in sports. These days the Scarlet Knights are better known for their football and men's and women's basketball squads. While those sports are struggling to make a name for themselves in the Big Ten, the students, athletes and fans at Rutgers have another way to make a mark in their new conference home: add hockey.

Rutgers hockey? How feasible is that? With the current support of 2,674 and growing, I'd say it's not completely out of the question.

Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now?: Players Leaving Early

It happens each and every year; the calling of the NHL gets too great for the 19-22 year olds. It becomes even easier to jump ship after a rough and/or disappointing season. Here's a look at which players have opted out of their remaining collegiate days in hopes of an NHL future.

Michigan

Andrew Copp - Junior Forward, Winnipeg Jets
Copp is another Michigan native took off from Ann Arbor for the bigs. He was a fourth round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2013. Going so late in the round, I'd be willing to bet the Jets gave him a pretty good offer to make the leap from Michigan. An up and coming team it'd be no surprise if Copp has the opportunity to break into the lineup at some point next season.

Impact: Copp had a breakout season his junior year. He put up a career-best 31 points and was the team's third leading scorer all while wearing the 'C'. He made a noticeable difference on and off the ice. While his loss will be tough, it's not the end all be all for a Michigan squad on the rise.

2015-16 Big Ten Schedule Released

It's time to gear up for next season -- at least a little bit anyway -- with the release of next year's Big Ten schedule. Fans will be pleased to see most of the games have gone back to the typical Friday/Saturday night series with just two Sunday and Thursday night games a piece.

2015‐16 BIG TEN HOCKEY SCHEDULE  
Friday Dec. 4 Wisconsin at Michigan
Friday Dec. 4 Ohio State at Minnesota
Friday Dec. 4 Michigan State at Penn State

Saturday Dec. 5 Wisconsin at Michigan
Saturday Dec. 5 Ohio State at Minnesota
Saturday Dec. 5 Michigan State at Penn State

Friday Dec. 11 Minnesota at Michigan
Friday Dec. 11 Wisconsin at Michigan State

Saturday Dec. 12 Minnesota at Michigan
Saturday Dec. 12 Wisconsin at Michigan State

The Big Ten in the Biggest Moments

By Miles McQuinn

There’s only one thing that can bring out hockey sweaters in the warm months of May and June – it’s Stanley Cup playoff time. Plenty of familiar names don the ice in the conference finals of this year’s quest for the Cup. But the Big Ten has been represented long before the conference even came to be. Here’s a look at some of the best playoff performers to come out of Big Ten schools.

(Editor’s Note: We’re aware that these players were not in the Big Ten Hockey Conference at the time that they played... just go with it and enjoy!)

Let's Party: My NCAA picks and take on Minnesota's chances

By Miles McQuinn

The end of March into April has to be my favorite time of year. The daily grind of college courses start winding down, mother nature is in a happier mood (for most parts of the nation anyway) and hockey takes center stage across the nation.

This time of year signals playoff and tourney time. tourney time. With the NCAA hockey tournament kicking off today, I say let the real "March Madness" begin.

Like basketball, filling out a bracket is a must. Last year my bracket wasn't too pretty with the exception of my Big Ten picks which were spot on (covering them throughout the season educated me well).

This year we only have one B1G team making the big dance. Will the Gophers represent well? There's potential but getting past Jack Eichel and the BU crew will be a true test.

So without further adieu, here is who I have hanging a banner in 2015.

Blame Game: Where does the real blame lie when it comes to attendance?

By Jessi Pierce

Another tournament has come and gone. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for the fans. Empty seats once again lined the rows at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. As I watched from home I couldn't help but notice the emptiness. It was almost a glaring distraction from the on-ice action.

It's sad when the topic of conversation switches from the hard work of the teams to the attendance -- or lack thereof. Players worked hard all season to be celebrated at a conference tournament, only to have few more than mom and dad in the crowd.

"You get to this time of the year, and you want to play in front of good crowds," Gopher head coach Don Lucia told the Detroit Free Press. "Doesn't matter if they're cheering for you or against you. It's kind of what you're used to all season long."

But the more pressing issue isn't just the lack of attendance, it's the question of why. Why do fans continue to remove themselves from conference tournaments? Where has the passion gone and will it come back?

Here Lies: Michigan's 2014-15 Season

In the championship battle of the U of M's, we all knew one must ultimately fall. Saturday night at the Joe it was the boys in blue who gave in as No. 3 Michigan was done in by No. 1 Minnesota, 4-2.

Overall it was a successful season for Michigan. The Maize and Blue had an unreal offense, quick and high-scoring. The charge was led by Zach Hyman, Andrew Copp and Dylan Larkin. Hyman had 58 points on the season and was named to the All-Tournament team after leading all players in scoring over the weekend with five points.

Hyman and company were the storyline for Michigan this season. They absolutely dominated, leading the conference with 143 goals during the season.

But the Gophers rallied behind their own dominating offense. Minnesota managed to pepper Wolverine goaltender State Racine with 20 shots in the first period along -- a season-high shots allowed for Michigan.

It's a tough way to go out, but Red Berenson knows how to reload. I wouldn't be surprised to see Michigan in the championship game in 2016 -- maybe this time they take home the hardware.

RIP

Here Lies: Michigan State's 2014-15 Season

If there's a way to go down that clenches the chest, it's at the hands of your instate rival. The pride of your state, in your state. Michigan State fell to Michigan, 4-1 at the Joe.

Michigan State without question has one of the top goalies in the nation in Jake Hildebrand. Without a doubt he deserves the lion's share of the credit for the Spartans successes this season. Without him, MSU would not have won half the games they did. In Friday night's match-up they allowed four goals for just the ninth time all season.

Michigan's offense figured it out and was too strong of a match.

Still I give credit to Sparty. They had a decent year, earning the No. 2 seed in the weekend's tournament -- though their 17-16-2 might not suggest it.

On the bright side, Hildebrand is only a junior. He will return for next year. Let's just hope MSU's offense helps him out more on the other end of the ice.

RIP

Here Lies: Ohio State's 2014-15 Season

It wasn't as quick and painless as many had thought. The Gophers were a tough draw, but Ohio State had been here before. Last season they upended the mighty Minnesotans. This year was a different story. This year the Buckeyes lost and finished their season. 

Watching senior captain Tanner Fritz head back to the dressing room in full uniform, almost in tears knowing his collegiate career had come to a close, it doesn't take much more than that to realize that it's about more than a game.

For Fritz, he will soon become the first member of his family to graduate from college.

The Buckeye captain's journey has come full circle.

Ohio State, who had won six of their last seven games coming into Friday afternoon's Big Ten semifinal contest against Minnesota, saw their 2014-15 journey come to a close on Friday afternoon at Joe Louis arena by a 3-0 final score.

Here Lies: Wisconsin's 2014-15 Season

Some things are better six feet under. This year's Badger season is definitely one of them. The final nail in the coffin came at the defeating hands of Michigan -- who hammered home a win, 5-1, Thursday at the Joe.

There's no tip-toeing around it, Wisconsin's season was brutal on all fronts. Despite efforts from the likes of Grant Besse and goaltender Joel Rumpel, it didn't seem to be enough,  With Thursday's loss the Badgers dropped a school record 26 games. The historic program has opened record books in areas they never wanted to.

Shining high points of this season included a sweep over rival Minnesota and...well one high is better than none.

Will this death mean the end of the coaching staff? Who knows. We can only hope that they rise from the dead stronger than last year -- it can't get any worse can it?

RIP

Here Lies: Penn State's 2014-15 Season

It was a tragic end to an excellent season for the Nittany Lions. We were hoping to see them live past this opening tournament day, but they met their untimely season demise at the hands of Ohio State -- a squad they struggled with all season.

Ohio State has now bested PSU seven of the past 10 meetings and completed its third straight victory over the Nittany Lions.

But let's remember the good times of Penn State. The season that saw them improve on years past and a season that showed the nation they weren't at the Division I level by mistake. It was a year capped with a 18-15-4 record and a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten.

The Roar Zone powered the team through the season. At home they proved to be nearly unstoppable at 13-2-3. Pegula saw notable wins over Michigan State, Minnesota and a late-season sweep of Michigan.

While their season lies here, we know they will rise from the dead bigger and stronger next year.

RIP

Tourney Talk: Thoughts Heading Into Big Ten Tournament

By Miles McQuinn

What a wild finish to the Big Ten Conference regular season. All six teams are set to make their journey to Joe Louis Arena with the hopes of not only a conference title, but the chance to play for an NCAA title as well. Unfortunately, it looks like the Big Ten will only have one, maybe two representatives in the big dance this year. Regardless, here's my thoughts on each team as an exciting weekend in the motor city quickly approaches.

Michigan, Penn State Lead Season Awards

The Big Ten announced its end of the year awards Monday morning. Michigan and Penn State tied for nine awards a piece, with Michigan's freshman phenom Dylan Larkin being a unanimous selection in three categories. Michigan State netminder Jake Hildebrand made an impression this year. His outstanding play between the pipes -- where he led the conference in every goaltending category -- earned him Player of the Year and Goaltender of the Year. Minnesota's Mike Reilly also found himself in a familiar place, winning the Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The B1G Scoreboard (2/20/15 - 2/22/15)

Men's Scores From 2/20/15:

• Michigan @ Ohio State, 7:00 ET

• Minnesota @ Penn State, 6:30 ET on BTN
  
• Michigan State @ Wisconsin, 8:00 CT on BTN 

Valentine's Cards For The One Who Lit The Lamp On Your Heart

Because nothing goes toether better than love and hockey. 

B1Gger Effect in the State of Hockey?

By Jessi Pierce

For three years I've seen it time and time again. I'd venture to say 90 percent of tweets or posts sent out in regards to the realignment and Big Ten hockey are met with negativity far and wide. People are still angry and still long for the days of college hockey past. It's affected nearly every Big Ten team's fan base, but the biggest resentment seems to be reserved for Minnesota fans.

Trust me, I get it. A State of Hockey native, I'll be the first to admit that my heart is with the Gopher Hockey team each and every season. It has been since I can remember. It's the team that I grew up following, every successful and unsuccessful tournament run.

"Big Pond" Deserves Big Donation

Big Ten hockey needs expansion, Illini are my call from the bullpen

By Miles McQuinn

You can never have too much of a good thing.

In its second campaign, the Big Ten conference hasn't had the greatest year. According to the lates USCHO.com poll, Michigan is the only Big Ten team in the Top 20, sitting at No. 14. Penn State is next in line to hop into the rankings, and Minnesota isn't far behind, as both have received a decent amount of votes.

After a disappointing inaugural tournament attendance-wise at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., the conference is hoping for a little more success in Detroit for this year's tournament.

While the Big Ten is hoping for redemption, most likely in the form of Michigan come NCAA Tournament time, I'm hoping that a generous individual (or individuals) are hoping to play the same role that Terry Pegula once played.

The B1G Scoreboard (1/30/15-1/31/15)

Men's Scores From 1/30/15:

• Michigan State 2, Michigan 1 -- Spartans Take Down No. 13 Michigan, 2-1

• Minnesota 7, Wisconsin 5 -- Gophers Put Up Seven in Win Over Badgers

Women's Scores From 1/30/15:

• Syracuse 2, Penn State 2 OT

• Wisconsin 3, Minnesota State 0

• Ohio State 3, Minnesota 3 OT (Minnesota wins shootout)

Men's Scores From 1/31/15:

• Minnesota 4, Wisconsin 4 OT (Wisconsin wins shootout) -- Badgers Draw, 4-4, with Minnesota

Women's Scores From 1/31/15:

• Syracuse 2, Penn State 4

• Wisconsin 5, Minnesota State 1

• Ohio State 1, Minnesota 3

Showdown in the Shoe

Why an Ohio State vs. Michigan matchup in the horseshoe needs to happen

By Miles McQuinn

On Oct. 6, 2001, on a beautiful fall night in East Lansing, Mich., Michigan State and Michigan faced-off in what was easily dubbed the "Cold War." The prized outdoor game set a new outdoor hockey attendance record, as more than 74,000 people watched two of the nation's top five teams battle to a 3-3 tie in Spartan Stadium.

A little over nine years later, Michigan put on their own show in what was known as "The Big Chill at the Big House." The score was not nearly as even as the Wolverines dominated from start to finish, winning 5-0 in front of more than 104,000 fans.

Ohio State wanted to get in on the action. But instead of playing rival Michigan at Ohio Stadium, they took the contest with the Maize and Blue two hours north to Cleveland. "The Frozen Diamond Faceoff" was held at Progressive Field, home of Major League Baseball's Cleveland Indians, in mid-January of 2012. The then No. 15 Wolverines pummeled the then No. 2 Buckeyes 4-1 with 25,864 on hand on the shores of Lake Erie.

Let this be my first call for and outdoor game to take place at Ohio Stadium, home of the national champion Buckeye football team. If this were to take place, here is what needs to happen, and here's how I think this will play out (Bear with me fine readers).

B1G Has Higher Hopes in Hockeytown

By Mike Hinrichs

It's still a little less than two months away, but it's never too early to start looking forward to the second annual B1G tournament, set to take place March 19-21. This year's tourney heads to the heart of Hockeytown, hosted at the infamous Joe Louis Arena.

Last year's inaugural B1G conference tournament called the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul home. Looking at the attendance numbers, you can bet the Big Ten is hoping for a better turnout the second time around.

Why the B1G Bust in 2014-15?

By Jessi Pierce

It's been a rough year two for many Big Ten hockey fans. While Michigan and Penn State and find themselves enjoying the top of conference standings respectively, perennial powerhouses Minnesota and Wisconsin are facing struggles that have shaken their fan bases to the core. Meanwhile Michigan State and Ohio State continue to work for establishment in the middle of the pack.

On a nationwide scale the darkness of the Big Ten is even more noticeable. Take a look at the college polls and you'll be hard pressed to find a Big Ten team in the top 15 -- especially in recent weeks.