13 GAMES — 11 SCHOOLS — 2 CONFERENCES — 1 WINNER
For immediate release: Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Eleven of the country’s most storied college hockey programs will compete this fall in the inaugural
Big Ten/Hockey
East Challenge,
it was announced today by the Big Ten Conference and the Hockey East Association. Eleven different
institutions will participate in 13 designated games to be played between October 18-27, with six games in Hockey East
arenas on the first weekend, followed by six games in Big Ten arenas and a single game on neutral ice on the second
weekend.
“The Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge will offer a tremendous opportunity to build a relationship between our two con
-
ferences and to promote the strong traditions of college hockey on a national level,” said Big Ten Associate Commissioner
Jennifer Heppel. “The student-athletes will also benefit from the chance to take part in meaningful non-conference compe
-
tition against other top programs.”
“The college hockey landscape is going through a major change this season and each conference needs to look
beyond its familiar boundaries,” said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna. “We have great respect for the hockey-
playing institutions in the Big Ten and we hope to develop this concept to allow all of our programs to participate in this
competition in future years.”
A Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge Cup will be presented to the conference that records the most points from the 13
games. Points will be awarded as follows: two points for a win, one point for a tie and a bonus point for a road win. Should
a Big Ten school utilize a shootout in any of its home games, it will not factor into the result. Should each conference
record the same number of points, the results of the Penn State - Vermont game, played on neutral ice, will serve as the
tie-breaker.
The seventeen schools that play in these two conferences have compiled an unparalleld record of success in the
history of college hockey, combining to claim 33 national championships during the 66 seasons that the NCAA has
sponsored the sport. Of the 11 schools participating in the inaugural Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge, five took part in last
season’s NCAA Championship.
Below is the full schedule for the inaugural Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge:
Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge Schedule
(All times EST and 7:00 p.m. unless noted)
Friday, October 18
Wisconsin at Boston College
Michigan State at Massachusetts
Michigan at New Hampshire (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 19
Wisconsin at Boston University
Michigan State at Massachusetts
Michigan at New Hampshire
Friday, October 25
Boston College at Minnesota (8:00 p.m.)*
Boston University at Michigan#
UMass Lowell at Michigan State@
Saturday, October 26
Boston University at Michigan State
UMass Lowell at Michigan#
Penn State vs. Vermont %
(Philadelphia, PA - 5:00 p.m.)
Sunday, October 27
Boston College at Minnesota (2:00 p.m.)^