Big Ten Hockey Makes Wrigley Field Debut at Frozen Confines

Photo by Ryan Kuttler

Game #1 Boxscore
Game #2 Boxscore

CHICAGO, Ill. — As a deep freeze hit Chicagoland on Friday, things were heating up at the corner of Addison and Clark with the first college hockey games ever staged at Wrigley Field.

Opening night of the Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series produced two tightly-contested games played before 25,709 fans. Ohio State rallied from a two-goal deficit to edge Michigan, 4-3, while Notre Dame and Penn State played to a 3-3 overtime tie, with the Fighting Irish winning the shootout after a marathon eight rounds.

With the thermometer reading 24 degrees at puck drop, No. 13/13 Ohio State received a power play goal from Riley Thompson with 38 seconds left to upend No. 9/9 Michigan. It was the second goal of the game for Thompson, who tied the contest midway in the third on a power play tally. Kristoffer Eberly made 13 saves in the third period for the Buckeyes in a contest that was deadlocked in shots, 34-34. Freshman William Horcoff recorded a goal and assist in his collegiate debut for the Wolverines while T.J. Hughes and Michael Hage also recorded multiple-point nights.

Game two of Friday's doubleheader saw 86 shots placed on goal between the teams in a back-and-fourth affair. Penn State grabbed its first lead 10 seconds into the third period on Aiden Fink's goal before Notre Dame forced overtime midway through the period on a strike from Carter Slaggert. Ryan Helliwell provided the deciding goal in the shootout, breaking a streak of 11-straight shooters who were denied the back of the net.

The Frozen Confines continues Saturday with top-ranked Wisconsin meeting No. 2/2 ranked Ohio State in a WCHA women's game, followed by No. 1/1 Michigan State versus Wisconsin in a Big Ten showdown.

Tickets are available at Cubs.com/ BigTenHockey.