Paula C. Weston

By every metric, the Frozen Confines was a huge success for the Big Ten. The event featured six Big Ten teams plus two WCHA women’s teams from B1G schools and was played in Wrigley Field Jan. 3-4, just days after the NHL’s annual Winter Classic. The Big Ten Network did a fantastic job with coveriage, … Read more

The first half of the Big Ten season is in the books and there have been a few surprises along the way, setting up an interesting second-half sprint to the conference playoffs. As we head into the holiday break, here are some thoughts about each team. Minnesota 15-3-2 (8-1-1 B1G) The Golden Gophers had a … Read more

With one week of hockey for Big Ten teams before the holiday break, Minnesota tops the conference standings with 23 points, eight ahead of second-place Wisconsin. Feeling a little déjà vu? Maybe you’re flashing back to the middle of the 2022-23 season, when the Golden Gophers amassed 30 points in the first half, eight ahead … Read more

When Notre Dame opened Big Ten play against Wisconsin at the start of November, the Fighting Irish carried a 4-2-0 record into the series and improved to 5-2-0 with an OT Friday win. The following night, the Irish lost 2-1, the first defeat in a string of seven that ended only when they traveled to … Read more

As we prepare to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., it’s a good time to take a look at something for which each Big Ten team may be grateful. The Wolverines are road warriors with a power play that clicks After sweeping Penn State in Pegula Arena last weekend, Michigan improves to 9-2-1 on … Read more

Two weeks ago, Minnesota coach Bob Motzko said, “You don’t win championships early, but you can lose them.” After the Golden Gophers split a home-and-home series with Bemidji State, losing 3-1 in the Beavers’ barn last Saturday, Motzko made some remarks that echoed those he made about early season mistakes and successes. “We made a … Read more

When the Wolverines were picked by coaches in the preseason to finish fourth in the Big Ten, there were a number of factors that contributed to the impression that Michigan is going to be a middle-of-the-conference team. For starters, Michigan lost offense that accounted for 100 or so of its 169 total goals scored in … Read more

After sweeping Penn State in their opening weekend of Big Ten play, Minnesota is 7-1-0, the team’s best start since beginning the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season with 10 wins in a row. The seven wins in eight games is the Golden Gophers’ best start under Bob Motzko outside of that truncated season. “A lot of guys … Read more

For the Big Ten, the season is starting and fast and, well, big. With 37 games played collectively against nonconference foes, the Big Ten’s .703 win percentage in non-league play leads all conferences as November begins, with Hockey East (.628) and the NCHC (.627) not too far behind. Last weekend, six of the league’s seven … Read more

Two years ago, the Nittany Lions were an overtime goal away from a trip to the Frozen Four. After beating Colgate 8-0 in the first game of the 2023 Midwest Regional semifinal, Penn State fell to Michigan 52 seconds into overtime of the regional title game. Last season, Penn State finished sixth in the Big … Read more

Ohio State was picked seventh – last – in the Big Ten preseason coaches’ poll. Buckeyes coach Steve Rohlik has an idea or two about that. “Everybody’s got to put somebody somewhere,” said Rohlik, now in his 12th season behind the Ohio State bench. “I’ve never really paid attention to it since forever. What they … Read more