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.

Conference championships: B1G tourny & B1G trophy

By Jessi Pierce

Whew, where did the season go? Lots to be excited about with conference tournaments underway and even more to be excited about with the impending Frozen Four in Pittsburgh fast approaching.

Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan are still in action in semifinals this week in their respective conferences. Michigan State was bounced by Miami and Penn State played this year with no conference affiliation.

The Gophs got a share of the McNaughton Cup as WCHA regular season co-champs and I have to hand it to Wisco for coming back huge toward the end of the season. The Badgers went from the bottom of the barrel to contender for NCAA. Likewise Ohio State and Michigan have pulled off decent seasons too, but both enter the CCHA tournament underdogs against opponents Notre Dame and Miami.

Of course for fans this year's conference tournys will be extra bittersweet. The CCHA folds up shop and the WCHA Frozen Five will never look the same.

And of course it begs us to look forward to next year. In an effort to further hype up next year's "B1G" change in the college hockey landscape, ticket information for the Big Ten Conference championships was released today (decently priced, but c'mon really?).

Earlier this month the Big Ten also released what our favorite six teams will be playing for next year. As everything surrounding Big Ten hockey has been, there are mixed reactions on the futuristic looking trophy. Dubbed simply the Big Ten trophy until a name is decided on, it has fans chattering.

Ultimately conference tournaments mean the Big Ten is up next. We've had two years to become comfortable with it, so the B1G question is: are you?

Follow Jessi Pierce on Twitter at @jessi_pierce and this blog at @B1GIH

The B1G Scoreboard (10/25/12- 10/28/12)

Women's Scores From 10/25/12:

• RIT 4, Penn State 1

Men's Scores From 10/26/12:

• Ohio State 1, Bowling Green 0 — Buckeyes blank Falcons, 1-0 

• Michigan State 2, Lake Superior 3 —MSU falls to Lakers, 3-2

• Miami 2, Michigan 4 —Treais scores twice to lead U-M past No.3 Miami in CCHA opener

• Wisconsin 2, Minnesota-Duluth 0 —Leaving no doubts: Badgers shutout Bulldogs for first win of season

• Penn State 5, Army 0 —Lions blank Army, 5-0, for first NCAA shutout

• U.S. Under-18 Team 2, Minnesota 2 OT —Gophers skate to 2-2 overtime tie with U.S. Under-18 Team

Women's Scores From 10/26/12:

• RIT 2, Penn State 2 OT

• Bemidji State 1, Ohio State 4

• New Hampshire 1, Wisconsin 2

Men's Scores From 10/27/12:

• Ohio State 3, Bowling Green 3 OT Bowling Green wins shootout 1-0 (4 rounds) —Buckeyes skate to 3-3 tie at Bowling Green

• Michigan State 4, Lake Superior 2 —Spartans earn road split with 4-2 win

• Miami 4, Michigan 3 —U-M unable to hand on to third-period lead against No. 3 Miami

• Wisconsin 2, Minnesota-Duluth 2 OT —Wisconsin rallies late for 2-2 tie against Minnesota-Duluth

• Penn State 6, Sacred Heart 3 —Six different Lions score in 6-3 win vs. SHU

Women's Scores From 10/27/12:

• Bemidji State 1, Ohio State 10

• Minnesota 5, North Dakota 1

Men's Scores From 10/28/12:

• Canisius @ Minnesota 1:05 CT

Women's Scores From 10/28/12:

• Minnesota @North Dakota 2:05 CT

• New Hampshire @ Wisconsin 2:05 CT

A Look Back At The WCHA And CCHA

By Jessi Pierce

Ah that picture brings a bittersweet feeling to my heart. One of my favorite rivalry traditions enters its last season for the Gophers and Fighting Sioux North Dakota as conference rivals, although I am sure the bad blood will be maintained between the two teams beyond this season and for years to come.

As the WCHA and CCHA prepare their final descent with current conference teams before the Big Ten Hockey Conference imposes itself on the Big Ten teams, I wanted to first take a look back at each conference and all they have accomplished.

Western Collegiate Hockey Conference   

Founded: 1951

Former names: Midwest Collegiate Hockey League (MCHL), Western Intercollegiate Hockey League (WIHL)

Conference teams beginning 2013-14:  Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State, Michigan Tech, Mankato and Northern Michigan

Losing: Minnesota, Wisconsin to Big Ten & St. Cloud State, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota, University of Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha to NCHC

It’s one of the most storied conferences in college hockey to date and a conference with a long list of success. Founded under then a conference named the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League in 1951, Minnesota, Michigan and Michigan State had previously played together in that same MCHL along with original members Michigan Tech, North Dakota, Colorado College and Denver. The MCHL was later re-named Western Intercollegiate Hockey League in 1953 before owning the now infamous WCHA title it holds today.

Proud home to Minnesota, Wisconsin, St. Cloud State, Colorado College, Denver, North Dakota, Bemidji State, Alaska Anchorage, Mankato State, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha and Michigan Tech, the WCHA boasts some of college hockey’s most dominant teams with the hardware to prove it.

In 61 years, the WCHA has assembled one of the most impressive national championship records in any collegiate conference of any sport, amassing 37 men’s national championships and another 27 runner-up honors. Atop that, there has been at least one berth in the national championship round (Frozen Four) in 56 of 60 seasons overall and is proud home to 14 Hobey Baker winners and more than 400 NHL players past and present.

Central Collegiate Hockey Association

Founded: 1971

Former names: None

Conference teams beginning in 2013-14: None, conference folds.

Losing: Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State to Big Ten, Lake Superior State, Bowling Green Alaska Fairbanks to WCHA, Miami-Ohio to NCHC & Notre Dame to Hockey East

It's sad to see a conference that seemed to be getting some solid footing under it in the last 31 years disband due to teams fleeing to other conferences, but such is the way realignment goes.

Home to big guns Michigan and Michigan State and promising seasons from Ohio State, Miami-Ohio and Notre Dame, the CCHA has also seen its fair share of success on the ice, accounting for 23 of 80 NCAA Frozen Four participants from 1992-2011. Although the championship trophies are not quite as bountiful as seen in the WCHA or Hockey East, the CCHA has seen the likes of Bowling Green (1984), Michigan State (1986, 2007), Lake Superior State (1988, 1992, 1994), Northern Michigan (1991) and Michigan (1996, 1998) etch their names on an NCAA Championship. Further more, big names like Ryan Miller, Ryan Kesler, Marty Turco, Duncan Keith and Brian Roloston — just to name a few — have developed under teams in the CCHA.

Coming up...A look at the schedule for these two programs last season together and what it will mean.

My B1G Thought

By Jessi Pierce

***Editor's note: I am admitting my homer status as a Minnesota fan upfront to kick things off in this post, based entirely on my personal opinions.

Little more than a year ago, I echoed the sentiments of that weary Minnesota fan in the above video.

I'll be honest, I despised the idea of a Big Ten hockey conference from the first moment I had heard about it. A loyal WCHAer, I was fuming over the thought of losing the passion in the rivalries that the Gophers had established in the course of 61 years in the WCHA and the idea of losing some phenomenal conference competition. Just all around unhappy, not unlike many of the fans out there that I have spoken to and heard from.

Now for the cooling down process.

Once I set my own personal gripes with the conference aside, I began to think on a broader level of what exactly this meant for college hockey as a whole. On that basis, I see the impact of a Big Ten hockey conference having amazing potential to truly help the sport that fans love.

As I mentioned in one of my first posts on this blog, with a Big Ten hockey conference comes the synonymous Big Ten name and like it or not, it's more widely known than the Western Collegiate Hockey Association or Central Collegiate Hockey Association to people outside of the hockey realm. What a great way to expand and invite Big Ten — especially Penn State — fans to the game of hockey.

With the Big Ten name also comes the big bucks. With the financial backing of the Big Ten and Big Ten Network, it's golden for every single one of these programs. The Big Ten Network will guarantee fantastic media coverage throughout the entire season. Admit it, that's exciting stuff.

The biggest argument that goes against the Big Ten would be in the loss of rivalries, a legit concern that as you read even I had, especially when you consider the tickets sales for those games are great for both the bigger schools and the smaller ones alike when that competition comes around each season. It was announced a few months ago by Gopher Head Coach Don Lucia that a deal has been worked out that will include all Minnesota teams (St. Cloud, Duluth, Mankato and Bemidji) guaranteed match-ups with the Gophers throughout the season as well as the famed North Dakota rivalry. I imagine similar schedules will be worked out for the other schools that have set their own rivalry traditions because with only six teams playing two series' a season, there is plenty of room for outside competition.

That of course begs the argument that, "it won't be the same when we play those teams," but won't it? It will still be about the bragging rights and will still effect the record on the season as a whole, so why treat those games as though it's not as important now that it's non-conference. As a Cyclone, I know first hand how much Iowa State still loves to beat Iowa despite being in two different conferences and it is still considered one of the biggest games of the season. I see no reason why non-conference games that hold the same intense rivalry for the hockey teams will be treated any differently.

Another interesting point to note is that the Gophers are one of the founding members of the now dominant WCHA. What better team to be one of the stronger building blocks of the Big Ten hockey conference? Add in storied programs Wisconsin, Michigan and Michigan State and a solid base is laid for what is going to be a very promising program. And of course none of this is to discredit Penn State or Ohio State, both schools are equally as well known for athletics on a national level and with the addition of another sport, especially against some of the best competition in college hockey in the aforementioned schools, it's a win for them, too.

But love it or hate it, with the 2013-14 season comes the Big Ten and really the fans can help make it or break it. Why not try to shine some of the positives and see what in fact it could bring. It's not the first conference realignment and it's sure to not be the last and I am excited to see what might happen.

B1G Tournament Talk

By Jessi Pierce

Another college hockey season is closing in upon us with the ‘real’ March Madness on ice beginning in just a few short weeks. As attention shifts to conference tournament play we of course have to bring the latest in discussion of a Big Ten hockey tournament.

Previously announced as a tournament involving all six teams to be played at the arena of the conference champion, Scott Chipman, the Big Ten assistant commissioner for communications, told the Star Tribune’s Roman Augustovitz earlier this month that those plans had been “scrapped” in favor of a neutral site.

The clear favorite to host the first conference tournament is the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and sources have told media outlets that the Big Ten is hoping to finalize a deal with the arena by the end of the month. With nothing confirmed as of yet, odds still remain in favor of the Minnesota Wild’s home rink but offers up discussion for other potential sites. So let’s do what we do best and break it down:

Xcel Energy Center

St. Paul, Minn.

Capacity: 18, 064

Opening in 2000 after the return of professional hockey to Minnesota, the X has been host to a slew of notable hockey events. Each March, the coveted Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament resides there just one week prior to the Red Baron WCHA Final Five, both which tend to be host to at least one near (if not an actual) sell-out contest each year. The X also displayed two NCAA Frozen Fours in 2002 and 2011 and boasts the largest crowd to watch an indoor college hockey game with 19,463 witnessing Blake Wheeler’s reach-out goal in overtime to push the Gophers past North Dakota for the 2007 WCHA Championship. There’s no doubt that it’s an arena perfect for a conference tourney.

But according to Augustovitz, the “Big Ten Conference is just one of three conferences looking at the Xcel as a possible site for its postseason tournament.” As just mentioned, the WCHA is still looking to host its conference tournament there, with Commissioner Bruce McLeod telling Augustovitz, “It is still in play for what will be a newly configured WCHA in 2013-14. But we have a plan A and B. There are still some things going on that will effect everybody.”

With Minnesota’s own University of Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State University along with former WCHA member’s Denver, Colorado College and North Dakota used to playing postseason action at the Xcel, the NCHC is the third team eyeing it for its tournament, too.

Despite the options for the rink in the State of Hockey, the Big Ten is first in line for the spot, with McLeod stating, "The way things are lining up, we [the WCHA] are not the first in line," McLeod said, referring to holding a postseason tournament at the X. "Once the Big Ten decides what they would like to do, it will have a domino effect. They might decide to rotate their tournament and not have it exclusively at the Xcel."

 

Joe Louis Arena 

Detroit

Capacity: 20,066

Another great option with both Michigan and Michigan State in its vicinity, the Joe, like the X, has seen its fair share of on-ice action over the years. Home to some of hockey’s elite players with the likes of Gordie Howe and the Detroit Red Wings, it also plays host to the annual Great Lakes Invitational and CCHA tournament.

A bit older than the X, but also providing a wealth of rich hockey tradition I could see the Joe hosting the Big Ten conference tournament after the X if it is decided that a rotating location will work best. An edge that the Joe holds over the X is location, seeing as more of a mid-way point for most teams as opposed to the haul to Minnesota — the furthest west in the conference.

Consol Energy Center

Pittsburgh

Capacity: 18,387

With newly incumbent Penn State, a location out east is definitely an option to take in to consideration. The newest of the three locations mentioned — with just one full season under its belt — and the latest home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Consol Energy Center is no stranger to large fan bases, named the best NHL arena for 2010-11.

The Consol Energy Center was also selected to host the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four which will be a great grade for the allure it can bring to a Big Ten tournament down the road.

Other potential options: Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, The United Center in Chicago and Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

While each venue brings its own character and reasons for hosting, in my opinion, it would be in the best interest of the Big Ten to do a rotating tournament. Why not use the allure of postseason games to draw more fans out in places outside of Minnesota and Michigan. It’s been typical for arenas to maintain location for conference tournaments (WCHA and the X, CCHA and the Joe etc.) but that’s not always best. For example, the hiccup that the Xcel Energy Center poses in being a permanent location is that Minnesota is the westernmost Big Ten team, making travel difficult for plenty of Penn State and even Ohio State fans.

Where Will the Big Ten Stack Up in Hockey Conferences?

By Jessi Pierce

So we've looked at the ins and outs and the odds and ends of the Big Ten Conference. Now it's time to see where these teams, and overall this conference, will rate against the more established Hockey East, and equally new National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

This conference has pulled in some of the greats who have showed their prowess in the former Western Collegiate Hockey Conference. Team's that have squared off numerous times throughout the year in the past will now have -- as announced last week -- a 24-game league schedule among its eight members, meaning each team will square off four times against five opponents, leaving just twice for the other opponent.

There's no doubt the NCHC has strength on a variety of levels. With 17 NCAA National Championships among them, many of these teams are no stranger to winning seasons and the big dance on ice at the end of the season. In turn, the NCHC boasts some of the top-recruiters in the nation in North Dakota and Denver with Colorado College and University of Minnesota-Duluth nipping at their heels.

As any WCHA loyal knows, it's a conference that has dominated college hockey for decades and with the meat of that conference now in the NCHC, it as well will be a force to be reckoned with starting in 2013-14.


The Hockey East is one of the top conferences not really affected by the "B1G Shakeup", keeping all of their original members and adding another hockey powerhouse in Notre Dame. Like the NCHC/WCHA, Hockey East has shown tremendous winning power with 10 NCAA National Champsionships and likewise, some of the top college hockey programs in Boston University and Boston College.

Always a power-struggle between Hockey East and WCHA, I can only expect the struggle continue with the NCHC when the 2013-14 season rolls around. Adding Notre Dame will only increase its number of dominant teams.


The conference we've all been waiting for -- and the one that started teams scrambling for a new home. The Big Ten Conference has some of the most well-known and dominant teams in hockey college history. Topping both of the aforementioned conferences with 23 NCAA Championship titles between them, in addition to an up and coming Ohio State program and an ACHA dominant Penn State, I am excited to think that this will be one of the top hockey conference beginning in 2013-14.

Ok, I know it sounds a bit biased, and maybe it is, but breaking it down, there is little reason to doubt that assumption. Even financially, these programs are the most stable, drawing a huge fanbase from each respective school which I anticipate will only continue into the new conference.

It can be argued that its schedule -- formatting only six teams compared to the NCHC's eight and Hockey East's 12 -- is weak, but with only 20 league games for each team, it also allows the team's to get creative with their out of league opponents.

Take Minnesota for example. Not only will the Big Ten format allow the Gophers to maintain the rivals created in the WCHA (Lucia has already announced that the Gophers will play eight games against Minnesota teams each year), it leaves room to not only include famed rival North Dakota, but get creative and draw in opponents from Hockey East -- something that in the past has typically only been left for tournament play.

It's hard to not look at this conference and see the powerhouses. Elite status? maybe, time will tell folks. But a conference with plenty of power to establish themselves as a top conference on the college hockey landscape.

The B1G Scoreboard (1/27/12-1/29/12)

(Articles are linked once available)

Men's Scores from 1/27/12:

• Michigan State 1, Ferris State 2 - Spartans Tipped at Ferris State 2-1
• Ohio State 0, Lake Superior 1 - No. 6/7 Buckeyes Fall to Ferris State 1-0
• St. Cloud State 1, Minnesota 2 - Gophers Close Out St. Cloud State
• Wisconsin 3, North Dakota 5 - Badgers take UND to the wire, fall in the last two minutes
• Penn State 2, Ohio 1 - Holmstrom hoists Icers to victory over Bobcats

Women's Scores from 1/27/12:

• Minnesota 6, Minnesota State 3 
• North Dakota 2, Ohio State 6
• Bemidji State 2, Wisconsin 3 OT 

Men's Scores from 1/28/12:

• Michigan State 3, Ferris State 4 - Spartans Fall, 4-3, at Ferris; Suffer Sweep
• Ohio State 4, Lake Superior 4 (OT Lake Superior) - McCormick's Hat Trick Leads Buckeyes in 4-4 Tie at Lake Superior
• Minnesota 3, St. Cloud State 2 - Warning's Late Goal Lifts Gophers
• Wisconsin 2, North Dakota 4 - Badgers drop 4-2 decision to UND
• Penn State 4, Ohio 1 - Saad's Two Scores Help Icers Defeat Ohio

Women's Scores from 1/28/12:

• Minnesota 4, Minnesota State 1
• North Dakota 5, Ohio State 2
• Bemidji State 0, Wisconsin 1

Border Battle: Minnesota & Wisconsin Pre-Game Warmup

By Jessi Pierce

A river of separation and a lifetime of rivalry; that's what this weekend is all about for Minnesota Gopher and Wisconsin Badger fans and players alike. It's been a historic battle since the 1969-70 season and continues to be one of the most highly touted match-ups on the ice in the Midwest to date.

While the Badger football team heads to TCF for their chance at Paul Bunyan's Axe on Saturday, the Gopher hockey team will take their chances at the Kohl Center for a weekend series against Wisconsin beginning tonight. The Gophers are coming off a huge weekend sweep over western bordermate North Dakota as Wisconsin looks to bounce back from a tough weekend at St. Cloud State.

Recently ranked No.1 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine College Hockey Polls for the first time since 2008, Minnesota comes in to Madison as the clear favorite holding an edge of 153-84-20 all-time record against the unranked Badgers and a 60-51-13 showing while in Madison.

While the Gophers are coming in hot, the team knows you can never underestimate Wisconsin. The Badgers bring with them a slew of underclassman this year all with extreme talent. Between the pipes rookie netminders Landon Peterson and Joel Rumpel have been splitting time for Wisconsin and goaltending for both teams should be the difference maker this weekend folks.


Kent Patterson has been unreal in net so far this year for Minnesota. With five shutouts on the season and a 9-1-0 record beneath him, Patterson holds a 1.60 goals against average and a .942 save percentage. The Badgers will need to do what many other opposing teams have failed to and that is find a way past Patterson.

Breaking it down both teams are fairly young with outstanding rookie classes but Patterson has kept the Gophers one step ahead of every other team so far this season. 14 different players have tallied goals for the Badgers this season so who to look for on scoring is a toss-up although I'd keep an eye on All-American junior defenseman and last year's leading scorer for Wisconsin, Justin Schultz, along with its top line of Mark Zengerle, Tyler Barnes and Joseph LaBate (Barnes and Zengerle have combined for nine goals  and 24 assists on the season).

For Minnesota Kyle Rau has been proving why he was named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey in 2010-11. With eight goals on the season Rau scored last weekend's game winner against the Sioux and has shown unparrallel skills for a rookie. Rau's not the only one lighting the lamp with Minnesota outscoring its opponents 48-16 so far this season. Be on the lookout for Erik Haula (currently leading the nation with 17 points) and Zach Buddish to be swarming the net as well.

Ultimately--in my humble opinion-- it will come down to who notches the first goal. With the fierce rivalry of this series whoever can get the momentum going in their direction first should come out on top.

I will be tweeting LIVE during the game so don't forget to follow @B1Gicehockey for some more insight on the series. Let the border battle begin!

Death of a Rivalry?

By Andrew Gerbosi

Minnesota and North Dakota have one of the most famous rivalries in all of college hockey.  Blood has been shed, punches thrown, and neither school's fan base has an ounce of respect for the other.  The four games between the two teams every regular season always seem to have an effect on the top of the WCHA standings.  However, with the Big Ten Conference set to begin in 2013, will these rivalries still hold the same clout that they do now?  Minnesota will most likely continue playing North Dakota in the future, as will Wisconsin, but not as frequently, and with less at stake.  Sure, national rankings will still be affected by these match-ups, and there will always be the history and pride on the line but I do not know if the intensity will still be there 15-20 years down the line. Michigan and Michigan State are leaving their conference rivals behind as well, but are more rivals to each other than to the remains of the CCHA.  So what is to become of the Minnesota-North Dakota showdown in the future?

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 Butterfly Effect: The Creation of Big Ten Hockey

The Big Ten Butterfly Effect

It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world - Chaos Theory

Congratulations Terry Pegula!  You are the butterfly that caused the typhoon across the college hockey nation, realigning the landscape that has shaped NCAA Division I hockey for decades. For some, the realignment has been devastating, resulting in the destruction of long-time conference rivalries and leaving some in dire straits to find a home.  Others through luck or pluck have found themselves a new conference to call their own as the Big Ten looks to add a hockey program to their legends and leaders board.
Pegula and his wife Kim--owners of the Buffalo Sabres-- first rocked the boat with a generous $88 million gift to the Penn State University hockey program nearly one year ago, boosting the Nittany Lions from the American Collegiate Hockey Association (Club) to Division I status. The addition not only saw the previous 7-time ACHA National Champions move up the competitive ladder, but now gave the football dominent Big Ten a sixth hockey team, necessary by NCAA standards to form a conference.