Big Ten releases inaugural hockey schdule; Ohio State to face off with Michigan

Ohio State men's hockey enters a bold new era in 2013-2014 when they officially begin conference play in the inaugural season of the Big Ten. The Buckeyes will be joined by Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, and Wisconsin. Each of the schools will play 20 conference games.

The Buckeyes' first ever game in the new league (and under new head coach Steve Rohlik) will come in Ann Arbor against arch rival Michigan, November 29th, one day before the two schools meet in football. The Buckeyes and Wolverines meet again Monday, December 2nd in Columbus, Friday, February 28 in Ann Arbor, and again either Sunday or Monday, March 2 or 3, at home against the Wolverines.

Even though this is the inaugural season for the new Big Ten hockey conference, it is not the first time the league has sponsored an official championship. From 1958-59 through 1980-81, the Big Ten schools that sponsored hockey competed for Big Ten titles within their larger affiliation with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).

The league's first ever post season tournament will happen March 20-22, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Here's the league's inaugural slate:

2013‐14 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Schedule

DAY DATE MATCHUP

Friday Nov. 29 Ohio State at Michigan

Friday Nov. 29 Wisconsin at Minnesota

Saturday Nov. 30 Wisconsin at Minnesota

Monday Dec. 2 Michigan at Ohio State

Friday Dec. 6 Minnesota at Michigan State

Friday Dec. 6 Penn State at Wisconsin

Saturday Dec. 7 Minnesota at Michigan State

Saturday Dec. 7 Penn State at Wisconsin

Friday Jan. 10 Michigan at Wisconsin

Friday Jan. 10 Michigan State at Ohio State

Saturday Jan. 11 Michigan at Wisconsin

Saturday Jan. 11 Michigan State at Ohio State

Sunday Jan. 12 Minnesota at Penn State

Monday Jan. 13 Minnesota at Penn State

Friday Jan. 17 Ohio State at Minnesota

Friday Jan. 17 Penn State at Michigan State

Saturday Jan. 18 Ohio State at Minnesota

Saturday Jan. 18 Penn State at Michigan State

Friday Jan. 24 Michigan at Michigan State

Friday Jan. 24 Ohio State atWisconsin

Saturday Jan. 25 Michigan vs. Michigan State (Joe Louis Arena inDetroit, Mich.)

Saturday Jan. 25 Ohio State at Wisconsin

Thursday or Saturday Jan. 30 or Feb. 1 Michigan State at Minnesota*

Friday Jan. 31 Michigan State at Minnesota

Friday Jan. 31 Penn State at Ohio State

Friday Jan. 31 Wisconsin at Michigan

Saturday Feb. 1 Penn State at Ohio State

Saturday Feb. 1 Wisconsin at Michigan

Thursday or Saturday Feb. 6 or 8 Minnesota atWisconsin*

Friday Feb. 7 Minnesota at Wisconsin

Friday Feb. 7 Michigan at Penn State

Friday Feb. 7 Ohio State at Michigan State

Saturday Feb. 8 Michigan at Penn State

Saturday Feb. 8 Ohio State at Michigan State

Thursday or Saturday Feb. 13 or 15 Michigan at Minnesota*

Friday Feb. 14 Michigan at Minnesota

Friday Feb. 14 Michigan State at Penn State

Friday Feb. 14 Wisconsin at Ohio State

Saturday Feb. 15 Michigan State at Penn State

Saturday Feb. 15 Wisconsin at Ohio State

Friday Feb. 21 Michigan State at Wisconsin

Friday Feb. 21 Penn State at Michigan

Saturday Feb. 22 Michigan State atWisconsin

Saturday Feb. 22 Penn State at Michigan

Friday Feb. 28 Ohio State at Michigan

Friday Feb. 28 Penn State at Minnesota

Saturday March 1 Penn State at Minnesota

Sunday or Monday March 2 or 3 Michigan at Ohio State

Friday March 7 Michigan State at Michigan

Friday March 7 Minnesota at Ohio State

Friday March 7 Wisconsin at Penn State

Saturday March 8 Michigan at Michigan State

Saturday March 8 Minnesota at Ohio State

Saturday March 8 Wisconsin at Penn State

Friday March 14 Minnesota at Michigan

Friday March 14 Ohio State at Penn State

Friday March 14 Wisconsin at Michigan State

Saturday March 15 Minnesota at Michigan

Saturday March 15 Ohio State at Penn State

Saturday March 15 Wisconsin at Michigan State

Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament (Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.)

Thursday March 20 Quarterfinals

Friday March 21 Semifinals

Saturday March 22 Championship Game

*One of these three two‐game series will be played Thursday and Friday. The other two will be played Friday and Saturday.