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.

Buckeye State Battles On

Ohio teams realize importance of in-state rivalries

By Miles McQuinn

Location, location, location.

The Bowling Green, Miami, and Ohio State hockey teams are all two hours apart from each other. Despite no longer being members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA), they have all made it a point to continue playing each other each season.

Thank heavens they did.

The B1G Scoreboard (11/13/14-11/15/14)

Women's Scores From 11/13/14:

• Minnesota State 2, Wisconsin 8

Men's Scores From 11/14/14:

• Ohio State 3, Bowling Green, 2 -- Ohio State Scores Late for 3-2 Win at No. 19 Bowling Green

• Boston College 3, Michigan State 2 -- Spartans Come Up Short Against No. 8 Boston College

• American International 2, Michigan 5 -- Copp's Two-Goal Night Carries Michigan over AIC

• Penn State 3, UMass-Lowell 5 -- No. 4 UMass-Lowell Downs Nittany Lions, 5-3

• Minnesota-Duluth 3, Minnesota 0 -- Gophers Fall to UMD in Series Opener

Grassroots Growth = College Growth = Hockey Growth

By Jessi Pierce

What's one main thing you hear hockey fans groan and gripe about each season?

"No one is ever talking about or paying attention to hockey."

It's a pain we all know to be true. We feel jaded by the fact baseball (boring) and basketball (the worst) gain all the attention while hockey quietly sits in the background. It's due to the nicheness of our sport. It takes a unique breed to watch, play and overall enjoy hockey. Our numbers just aren't on par with those baseball, basketball and football players.

But that's starting to change.