Minnesota will compete in the inaugural season of the Big Ten Conference this year
MINNEAPOLIS – A new era in the Gopher hockey program begins this October as Minnesota joins the Big Ten Conference for its inaugural season in 2013-14.
The University of Minnesota, in conjunction with the Big Ten Conference, announced the team’s full schedule on Wednesday with the Gophers set to compete in 36 games including a 20-game conference schedule.
Minnesota officially opens the 2013-14 season as the host institution of the Ice Breaker Tournament at Mariucci Arena on Oct. 11-12 with New Hampshire, Clarkson and Mercyhurst also competing in the annual college hockey opener. Matchups for the tournament will be announced at a later date.
The Gophers then travel to Bemidji State for a two-game nonconference series Oct. 18-19 before hosting Hockey East power Boston College for a Friday-Sunday series starting Oct. 25. Minnesota travels to Notre Dame the following weekend for a two-game series with the Irish before a six-game home stand at Mariucci Arena with Minnesota State (Nov. 11-12), Minnesota-Duluth (Nov. 22-13) and Wisconsin (Nov. 29-30).
The home series against the border-rival Badgers marks Minnesota’s first official Big Ten conference games and kicks off the league schedule for all six Big Ten teams. The Gophers then travel to Michigan State on Dec. 6-7 before hosting the annual Mariucci Classic following winter break on Jan. 4-5. Teams for this year’s Mariucci Classic will be announced at a later date.
Minnesota will get its first look at Penn State and the new Pegula Ice Arena on Jan. 12-13 before hosting Ohio State the following weekend.
The inaugural Minnesota college hockey tournament is scheduled for Jan. 24-25 at Xcel Energy Center with St. Cloud State, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota State competing this season followed by Big Ten series against Michigan State, at Wisconsin and against Michigan the next three weekends. One of the three league series will be played Thursday and Friday while the other two will be Friday and Saturday series.
The Gophers close up the home schedule with Penn State on Feb. 28 and March 1 before rounding out the regular season on the road against Ohio State (March 7-8) and at Michigan (March 14-15).
St. Paul and Xcel Energy Center will host the inaugural Big Ten Men’s Hockey Tournament March 20-22 with the NCAA West Regional also being held at the venue March 28-29.
All dates and times are subject to change. A complete schedule is attached.
Information Courtesy of Brian Deutsch
Assistant Director of Athletic Communications • Golden Gopher Athletics