Week #2 Hockey Release

Photo courtesy of Michigan Athletics

OFFICIAL RELEASE

• The second week of the college hockey season finds three Big Ten teams conducting home openers while four others hit the road for nonconference action. Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin make their season debuts this weekend. 

• A national showdown takes place this weekend in East Lansing as No. 4/4 Michigan State plays host to No. 2/2 Boston College in the first regular season meeting between Top 10 teams this season. The Big Ten Network will broadcast the series opener from Munn Ice Arena. Two other Big Ten teams look to take advantage of home ice with No. 9/9 Wisconsin hosting Lindenwood and Ohio State entertaining American International.

• No. 5/5 Minnesota opens its campaign Friday on neutral ice, taking on Air Force at the 28th Ice Breaker in Las Vegas. The Gophers will meet either UMass or Omaha on Saturday at Orleans Arena. Minnesota is looking for its fourth Ice Breaker title, which would tie Boston College for the most championships since the tournament started in 1997. No. 10/13 Michigan also heads west, squaring off against Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. Out East, Penn State travels to No. 8/8 Quinnipiac on Saturday while No. 20/18 Notre Dame makes a trip to upstate New York to compete against ECAC Hockey opponents St. Lawrence and Clarkson.

• Michigan State and Penn State are off to 2-0 starts following road sweeps last week. The Spartans allowed just two goals at Lake Superior State. Forwards Isaac Howard led MSU with five points (3-2—5) and Daniel Russell (2-2—4) scored back-to-back game-winners to earn Big Ten First and Second Star of the Week honors respectively. Goaltender Trey Augustine stopped 50-of-52 shots for a .962 save percentage and 0.98 goals-against average. Penn State traveled 8,050 round trip miles to secure two wins against Alaska in Fairbanks. Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, a transfer from UConn, turned away 58-of-61 shots (.951 SV%), which included a 5-0 shutout on Sunday. Senior Simon Mack scored the overtime winner in the series opener to earn Big Ten Third Star of the Week accolades.

• The 2024-25 National Hockey League season began in earnest this week, featuring a bevy of Big Ten talent. A total of 67 former Big Ten players were listed on opening night rosters. Michigan leads the way with 26 players, the most of any NCAA school. Minnesota has 15 former players in the Show and Wisconsin 12. The Big Ten’s longest-tenured players include Ryan Suter (Wisconsin), who is entering his 20th season, Jack Johnson (Michigan) in his 19th season and Max Pacioretty (Michigan), embarking on his 17th year.  Representing the rookie class are Gavin Brindley (Michigan), Seamus Casey (Michigan), Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State) and Rutger McGroarty (Michigan). See page five for a list of active players on NHL rosters.

• Tickets for the Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series are on sale at Cubs.com/BigTenHockey.