Men's Hockey Big Ten Tournament
As the college hockey season winds down, the Big Ten Conference is gearing up for one of its biggest events of the year: the Men’s Hockey Big Ten Tournament. The tournament will feature six teams competing for the coveted Big Ten Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Here’s a preview of what to expect from the tournament, including a breakdown of each teams’ strengths and weaknesses, and a schedule of games.
Tournament Format
The Men’s Hockey Big Ten Tournament will take place from March 14-16 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The tournament will feature six teams competing in a single-elimination format, with the top two teams receiving a first-round bye. The winner of the tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the remaining teams will hope for an at-large bid.
Team Previews
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes are the defending Big Ten Champions and will be looking to repeat as champions this year. They finished the regular season with a 19-11-5 record and a third-place finish in the conference standings. The team is led by senior forward Mason Jobst, who finished with 17 goals and 21 assists on the season. Junior goaltender Tommy Nappier has also been solid between the pipes this season, with a .934 save percentage and four shutouts.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Fighting Irish finished the regular season with a 20-13-3 record and a second-place finish in the conference standings. They will be looking to win their first Big Ten title this year. The team is led by senior forward Cal Burke, who finished with 12 goals and 15 assists on the season. Junior goaltender Cale Morris has also been solid between the pipes, with a .929 save percentage and four shutouts.
Michigan Wolverines
The Wolverines finished the regular season with a 13-16-7 record and a sixth-place finish in the conference standings. They will be looking to make some noise in the tournament and pull off a few upsets. The team is led by junior forward Jake Slaker, who finished with 14 goals and 12 assists on the season. Freshman goaltender Strauss Mann has also been solid between the pipes this season, with a .927 save percentage and two shutouts.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a 20-13-2 record and a fourth-place finish in the conference standings. They will be looking to win their first Big Ten title this year. The team is led by senior forward Chase Berger, who finished with 16 goals and 15 assists on the season. Sophomore goaltender Peyton Jones has also had a solid season, with a .907 save percentage and two shutouts.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Golden Gophers finished the regular season with an 18-15-4 record and a fifth-place finish in the conference standings. They will be looking to win their first Big Ten title this year. The team is led by junior forward Rem Pitlick, who finished with 17 goals and 29 assists on the season. Junior goaltender Mat Robson has also had a solid season, with a .914 save percentage and three shutouts.
Wisconsin Badgers
The Badgers finished the regular season with a 13-16-5 record and a seventh-place finish in the conference standings. They will be looking to pull off a few upsets in the tournament. The team is led by sophomore forward Roman Ahcan, who finished with 11 goals and 17 assists on the season. Freshman goaltender Daniel Lebedeff has also had a solid season, with a .912 save percentage and two shutouts.
Tournament Schedule
The following is the schedule for the Men’s Hockey Big Ten Tournament:
- Thursday, March 14:
- Game 1: Notre Dame vs. Penn State (4:30 PM CT)
- Game 2: Michigan vs. Minnesota (7:00 PM CT)
- Friday, March 15:
- Game 3: Ohio State vs. Game 1 winner (3:30 PM CT)
- Game 4: Wisconsin vs. Game 2 winner (6:00 PM CT)
- Saturday, March 16:
- Championship Game: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner (7:00 PM CT)
Conclusion
The Men’s Hockey Big Ten Tournament promises to be a thrilling event for fans of college hockey. With six talented teams competing for the championship, there will be no shortage of excitement and drama. Whether you’re a fan of one of the participating teams or just a lover of the sport, be sure to tune in and catch all the action.