ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference office announced on Tuesday afternoon that the 2020-21 hockey season will begin as soon as November 13, 2020, and will feature a 24-game conference schedule, plus an additional four games per school against Arizona State to be hosted at Big Ten venues. The 2020-21 schedule will conclude March 18-20, 2021, with the Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament.
"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," mentioned head coach Guy Gadowsky. "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 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 – 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.
"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."
The full 2020-21 Big Ten hockey schedule, including times and television designations, as well as further details regarding the 2021 Big Ten Hockey Tournament will be announced in the coming weeks.
Under current state guidance, public tickets will not be sold for 2020-21 Penn State hockey games.
