The Big Ten hockey season can get under way as soon as Nov. 13, the league announced Tuesday, and teams will play a 24-game conference schedule.
In addition, each Big Ten team will host four games against Arizona State.
“We are thankful to the Big Ten and each individual university for the sacrifices they’ve made to allow our hockey season to begin this semester,” PSU coach Guy Gadowsky said in a university release.
“We have been working extremely hard within Penn State’s safety protocols since returning to campus and are looking forward to getting back to competition come mid-November.”
The full PSU and Big Ten schedules will be announced at a later date.
The Big Ten has announced the 2020-21 season will begin as soon as November 13!!
Each program will play a 24-game conference schedule as well as an additional four games to be played against Arizona State at Big Ten venues.#WeAre #HockeyValley
Read โก๏ธ https://t.co/0KaWwoImnk pic.twitter.com/sxs47e5SKh
— Penn State Menโs Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 6, 2020
More information on the hockey season, from the Penn State release.
The 2021 Big Ten Hockey Tournament will return to the one-weekend, single-elimination format used during the first four years of Big Ten hockey and will feature all seven conference teams โ Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. The tournament will consist of six games (three games on Thursday; two games on Friday; and the championship game on Saturday).
Big Ten hockey teams will follow the same medical protocols that were developed by the Big Ten Return to Competition Task Force and announced on Sept. 16, 2020, including daily antigen testing, enhanced cardiac screening and an enhanced data-driven approach when making decisions about practice/competition. Arizona State has agreed to adhere to the same testing protocols as the Big Ten Conference.
Fans will not be allowed at Big Ten hockey games, per conference policy.
Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said this in a statement:
“The 2020-21 hockey season builds on the rich traditions of Big Ten Hockey and brings new competitive opportunities to the conference with the Arizona State University scheduling agreement,” said Commissioner Kevin Warren. “As our teams return to competition, we will continue to keep the health and safety of our student-athletes at the forefront of our decisions.”
