Around the Big Ten: Week 4
Matt McClure, Nate Pullen and Jeremy Schooler preview Big Ten hockey action for this upcoming weekend:
As we get set for yet another week of exciting hockey in the Big Ten, some teams have stormed out of the gates while others have yet to hit the gas pedal. The season is still in the early stages and we have yet to get into the full swing of conference play. We go around the Big Ten for college hockey this week.
First, Penn State has gotten off to the program's best start, winning all five games it has played thus far. Currently ranked No. 6, Penn State came into this year ranked No. 16 then moved to No. 10. Coming off two sweeps of Clarkson and Niagara at Pegula, Penn State gets set for yet another weekend of hockey at home.
This weekend, the Nittany Lions welcome the Arizona State Sun Devils to Pegula. The Sun Devils are coming into this game hot as well, as they are winners of their last four.
Michigan State is currently unranked in the coaches’ poll. However, that doesn’t negate the fact that the Spartans have had a nice start to the season. Currently, they are 3-1 on the young season, which includes a sweep against Cornell last weekend.
This weekend, the Spartans will remain in East Lansing for one game on Friday when they welcome Ferris State and then travel to Big Rapids, Michigan to play Ferris State away from East Lansing.
The Wisconsin Badgers currently sit in third place in the Big Ten this season. The Badgers are off to a 4-2 start. For the Badgers, they probably would’ve wished for a better start out of the gates. Last weekend, they were home to face Michigan Tech and split the series.
This weekend, the Badgers will travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to take on North Dakota. So far, Wisconsin is 1-1 on the road this season.
The No. 12 Michigan Wolverines are in the middle of the division. The Wolverines haven’t gotten off to the start they would’ve liked to, but Michigan currently is 3-2 overall.
Last weekend, the Wolverines swept St. Lawrence in Ann Arbor and won both games 3-0 and 3-1, respectively. This weekend, they’ll be on the road against Lake Superior State.
After winning the Big Ten conference last year, No. 5 Notre Dame is coming out of the gates somewhat sluggish. Before this week, the Irish were ranked No.1. However, their record is now 3-2-1 and last weekend they were swept by Minnesota-Duluth. This weekend, The Fighting Irish open up conference play when they welcome No. 7 Ohio State.
No. 7 Ohio State also has not had an ideal start to the season with a 3-2-1 record. As mentioned above, the Buckeyes will open Big Ten play against Notre Dame this weekend. Last weekend, Ohio State struggled against Bowling Green in a home-and-home series. Ohio State lost the first game 8-2 and tied the second game 2-2.
The No. 10 Minnesota Golden Gophers played one game last weekend against North Dakota and lost 3-1. This weekend, they’ll play a home-and-home with Minnesota State University-Manaka.
Tom Johnston is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email taj5211@psu.edu.
