Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge is a Thing
Just announced today is the fact that the Big Ten and Hockey East (home of BC, BU, Notre Dame, etc) have reached an agreement to have a Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge ala the B1G/ACC Challenge for basketball. I believe this is going to be an annual affair.
All of the games have already been scheduled and now it makes sense why we have games against BC, BU, Umass-Lowell and New Hampshire (which are all Hockey East) and very few against the NCHC and WCHA. Interestingly, the BC game does not count in the challenge though.
The Big Ten/Hockey East Challenge Cup will be presented to the conference that records the most points from the 13 games. Teams will earn points as follows: two points for a win, one point for a tie and a bonus point for a road win.
Eligible games:
Friday, October 18
#3 Wisconsin at #4 Boston College
Michigan State at Massachusetts
#10 Michigan at #13 New Hampshire (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, October 19
#3 Wisconsin at Boston University
Michigan State at Massachusetts
#10 Michigan at #13 New Hampshire
Friday, October 25
#4 Boston College at #5 Minnesota (8 p.m.)*
Boston University at #10 Michigan#
#1 UMass Lowell at Michigan State@
Saturday, October 26
Boston University at Michigan State
#1 UMass Lowell at #10 Michigan#
Penn State vs. Vermont % (Philadelphia – 5 p.m.)
Sunday, October 27
#4 Boston College at #5 Minnesota (2 p.m.)^
Quite a few huge games in there. Interestingly, Ohio State is not partcipating while Michigan and MSU have four. May have been conflicts with scheduling on fairly short notice. Anyway, should be a good thing for college hockey and B1G hockey exposure as the Big Ten/ACC Challenge has been for basketball.
Source: USCHO
September 24th, 2013 at 11:58 PM ^
September 24th, 2013 at 11:59 PM ^
September 25th, 2013 at 6:44 AM ^
I actually really like this idea as well as a way to get some pretty good matchups between ranked teams going right off the bat in the season. One thing that is nice here is that the conferences are driving it, whereas I seem to recall that the Big Ten / ACC Challenge was - at least in part - the brainchild of ESPN.
September 25th, 2013 at 6:48 AM ^
September 25th, 2013 at 7:17 AM ^
(I know you're making a joke) but I'm guessing this year's schedule was goofy and only teams that could fit other games on their schedule this year are participating. Penn State only has one game and OSU has none and I think only 4 or 5 teams from Hockey East are participating. I'd guess in subsequent years it'll be a bit more even amongst BTHC teams at least
September 25th, 2013 at 7:18 AM ^
Wonder what's gonna happen in basketball when ND is forced to play Michigan.
Brandon has said on the record they are ducking Michigan in basketball. Not surprising at all.
September 25th, 2013 at 9:15 AM ^
First they chicken out against the football team and now they are "ducking" the basketball team. That really "quacks" me up!
Let the neg bang begin!
September 25th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
September 25th, 2013 at 2:04 PM ^