The B1G Scoreboard (12/9/11-12/11/11 Weekend)

(Articles are linked once available)

Men's Scores from 12/9/11:

• Michigan State 3, Michigan 4 - Wolverines Stave Off Late Rally to Beat No.14 Michigan State
• Michigan Tech 3, Minnesota 2 (2 OT) - Michigan Tech Tops Minnesota in Overtime
• UMD 3, Wisconsin 3 (3 OT) - Badgers Skate to 3-3 tie with No.1 Bulldogs
• Miami 5, Ohio State 3 - Miami Upsets No. 4 Ohio State, 5-3
• Penn State 3, Liberty 4 - Icers Stumble in Game 1 of Weekend Series with Liberty

Women's Scores from 12/9/11:

• Wisconsin 3, Bemidji State 1

Men's Scores from 12/10/11:

• Michigan 3, Michigan State 4 (SO) - Spartans Tie UM, Win Shootout
• Michigan Tech 2, Minnesota 6 - Gophers Score Four Third-Period Goals, Win 6-2
• UMD 4, Wisconsin 2 - Comeback falls short in 4-2 loss to No.1 Bulldogs
• Ohio State 3, Miami 2 (OT) - No.4 Buckeyes Down Miami in Overtime, 3-2
• Penn State 4, Liberty 2 

Women's Scores from 12/10/11:

• Wisconsin 6, Bemidji State1
• Ohio State 1, Minnesota 4

Women's Scores from 12/11/11:

• Ohio State at Minnesota

Michigan & Michigan State: Rivalry Weekend

By Jessi Pierce

The picture says it all. A bitter rivalry from the get-go where emotions run high and reputation in the state is on the line; It's Michigan-Michigan State weekend. A top-notch series, the in-state rivals go head-to-head this weekend opening up at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor 7:30 Friday night before heading to Munn Arena for a 6:30 faceoff Saturday.

The current Central Collegiate Hockey Association foes on ice (and Big Ten enemies in all other sports) will battle it out for state bragging rights where past competition doesn't matter and history of the series is erased. This weekend is all that matters.

"It doesn't matter how much they've won or lost lately. It's a series that it doesn't matter if we or they have lost every game,'' newly appointed MSU coach and former Spartan player Tom Anastos told msuspartans.com's Neil Koepke. "I've been on both sides of it. Having a game against your rival is exciting for everybody. We're fired up. It gives you an extra jump in practice.''

Coming off a split last weekend to Alaska and a tough start to the season overall, Michigan has gone just 1-6-1 in its last eight games while the No.14 Spartans continues to move up the national rankings with an 8-1-1 run as of late--including a sweep over Bowling Green last weekend-- and are 10-5-1 overall.

But as in any game--especially one that the fans crave--it's anyone's game.

Michigan players to watch: Shawn Hunwick- Hunwick once again has been stellar between the pipes. Recording his second shutout of the season in the Wolverines 1-0 win at Alaska last weekend (and bumping his career shutouts to seven, tied for fifth in Michigan program history) the redshirt senior has a .937 save percentage in the series against MSU.

Chris Brown- With Michigan's leading scorer freshman Phil DiGiuseppe out of action this weekend for the Canadian World Junior Camp, Brown is next in line to fill his shoes. The Junior forward has four goals on the season ranks second to DiGiuseppe.

David Wohlberg- Currently the Wolverines leading point-getter against the Spartans (with 14 in 15 contests played) you're sure to see Wohlberg making moves on the ice this weekend.

MSU players to watch: Torey Krug- The junior captain along with linemate Brett Shelgren are a defensive dynamic duo, making it hard for any shots to get through. The pair combine for 75 blocked shots on the season and Krug's 4-7-11 line ranks fourth in the CCHA among defenseman in scoring.

Lee Reimer- Reimer currently sits second in the CCHA in both points (20) and assists (13) and is able to make moves and not only set-up plays but score too.

Brett Darnell- Darnell netted his first collegiate goal against Bowling Green last weekend and looked awesome out there. A four-point weekend last weekend earned the freshman CCHA Rookie of the Week honors and I wouldn't be surprised to see him tally a few more points again this weekend.

Realignment Not Just For College Hockey

 

By Jessi Pierce

From the get-go, our intent here at B1G Ice Hockey was to discuss the teams and the effect of a Big Ten Hockey Conference realignment. We have discussed the pros and cons and broken down what the change all really meant for NCAA hockey -- and the sport as a whole. It's been proven through time that change is never easy. Adjustment takes time and will be met with plenty of opposition along the way.

That's just the way it is. But it happens and eventually it becomes the norm.

I want to shift gears a bit from college hockey to the NHL after Monday evening's announcement on the new Conference alignment. See, it's everywhere folks--and hey since there are 42 current Big Ten Hockey players that have been drafted into the big leagues since 2008, we can tie that in too.

In case you haven't heard or have been too busy harping on yet another failed BCS championship games (oh SEC I loathe you), the League's Board of Governors approved and announced this past Monday that rather than the current two Conference format, teams would be slotted in to four Conference's to begin as early as next year. A peek at how the Conference's will sit, which have yet to be named:

Conference A: Edmonton, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Jose, Vancouver, Anaheim, Calgary, Colorado

Conference B: Detriot, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Chicago, Winnipeg, Dallas, Columbus

Conference C: Boston, Buffalo, Florida, Montreal, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Toronto

Conference D: Carolina, New Jersey, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington

The change will pit former foes against eachother, reigniting former rivalries, and will make travel and game times a lot easier on players (and fans) whose time-zone changes have been brought up numerous times throughout the past few seasons.

The same questions were raised as was during the Big Ten's announcement; "What about former rivalries?" "How will this change playoffs?" "I want things to just stay the same!".

But if it's good enough for the NHL--the goal that nearly every one of our favorite college hockey players hold-- why wouldn't it be good enough for NCAA hockey? As always, we will see how things play out when its put in to place, but just like I've said before (and in the words of Sheryl Crow) sometimes "A Change Will Do You Good."

For more on the NHL realignment visit www.NHL.com

Big Ten Hockey Game of the Week: Minnesota at Michigan State

By Jessi Pierce

Soon-to-be Big Ten opponents, the University of Minnesota heads to East Lansing this weekend for a series match-up in Michigan State's territory for the first time since 1980 in a battle of the Mariuci-Bessone Trophy. The Spartans nabbed the trophy for the first time in 10 years with a 5-2 win over the Gophers last year in Minneapolis.

The now defunct College Hockey Showcase ensured that the Gophers and Spartans squared off at least once a season since 1993-94 after Michigan State left the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference in 1981 for their current Central Collegiate Hockey Association home. The No.2/3 Gophers head to Munn Arena with a 101-42-12 all-time record against the Spartans but with splits for Minnesota the last two weekends to unranked teams (Wisconsin and St.Cloud State) on the road Friday nights, it's anyone's game.

Two hockey rich programs (and from states dubbed "Hockeytown" and "The State of Hockey" nonetheless) who haven't been to the NCAA tournament in four years will look to give an awesome series great to watch after a plate full of turkey and pie.

More information on the series and its former rivalry: Re-igniting the rivalry

Frozen Diamond Faceoff: Clash of Michigan & Ohio State

By Jessi Pierce

Last January, the University of Michigan housed a record-shattering hockey--and even surpassed NCAA crowd attendance--event when the Wolverines played host to intrastate rival Michigan State in an outdoor game appropriately dubbed the "Big Chill at the Big House". 113,411 fans witnessed college hockey in all it's glory on a stage typically showcasing some of football's best in Ann Arbor's largest venue.

While it's going to be tough to match the success of last year's game, Ohio State certainly is going to try. Big Blue will hit the road Jan. 15 for a match-up with the Buckeyes not at Ohio Stadium where a showdown between the team's two football powerhouses have typically occurred, but at Progressive Field, home to MLB's Cleveland Indians.

Moving the game to a baseball diamond is unique beyond a doubt. As with last year's game the hopes are to increase exposure for hockey at the collegiate level. With the rivalry between these two storied football programs dating back to the 1920s, will that same intensity translate on ice at a baseball field?

As any hockey fan I am nothing but eager to check this game out just a few weeks after the famed Winter Classic. Putting the game at center stage in its purest form brings the game back to its roots. Let's play ba--er hockey!

Tickets went on sale Nov. 14 and more information can be found here: Frozen Diamond Faceoff