Big news out of the Big Ten, as the athletic directors of Michigan State, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Penn State have announced their intention to recommend to the Big Ten Council of Presidents/ Chancellors to create the Big Ten Men’s Ice Hockey Conference.  All of this would be set to go in 2013.

Wait Mac D.  I don’t know a lot about hockey but isn’t there already a Big Ten Hockey Conference?

No

Michigan State, Michigan, and Ohio State are members of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).  Wisconsin and Minnesota are under the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. (WCHA).  Penn State has not even started its Men’s Hockey Program yet.  MSU and U of M would then get to play Wisconsin and Minnesota more then once a year.

The idea is for a 20 game Big Ten Schedule, playing 4 games against every body else in the conference (2 home and 2 away).  Big Ten would end the season with a Big Ten tournament (The Joe would be a nice place for the first one).  Just like basketball the winner of the Conference tournament would get an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.  It was stressed that the Big Ten would work to create a strong Non-Conference schedule with tons of games against the CCHA and WCHA.  Good, Games against Ferris State and Western Michigan were always my favorites.

This is all happening now because Penn State announced that it is creating a Men’s Hockey team and the current rule in the Big Ten you need six sponsoring institutions before you can crown a Big Ten Champion. So thanks Penn State.

Currently the five Big Ten schools with hockey programs have very strong winning traditions.  I am very excited if this does eventually happen.  I think it will. 

So hey Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska get on the band wagon and make some Men’s Ice Hockey Teams.  I would love to see all 12 schools in one conference.

Credit – MSUSpartans.com