The Gophers' 2015-2016 schedule will kick off with a heavy dose of East Coast opponents. The season opens on Oct. 10 against Vermont in the Hall of Fame game at Mariucci Arena, and Northeastern comes to Minneapolis for a two-game series, Oct. 23-24, the team announced on Tuesday.

The eastern theme continues for the 25th annual Mariucci Classic with UConn, Harvard and Ferris State filling out the four-team field in the Gophers' New Year's tournament.

The home-and-home series format returns with in-state rivals Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State. The Gophers host the Bulldogs on Oct. 16 and travel north for the series finale the next night. The Mavericks host the series opener in Mankato on Nov. 13 and visit Mariucci Arena on Nov. 14.

The Gophers will host a two-game series against St. Cloud State, Nov. 13-14. The non-conference schedule also includes a trip to Notre Dame, Nov. 6-7, which will conclude the friendly coach vs. son rivalry between Gophers coach Don Lucia and Notre Dame senior forward Mario Lucia, unless the teams meet again in the postseason.

Big Ten play begins Dec. 4-5 against Ohio State at Mariucci Arena and closes at home March 11-12 against rival Wisconsin.

St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, defending champion Bemidji State and the Gophers will make up the four-team field for the third annual North Star College Cup at Xcel Energy Center, Jan. 29-30.

The Big Ten tournament returns to Xcel Energy Center this season, March 17-19. Xcel Energy Center will also host an NCAA regional, March 25-26. The Frozen Four will be played in Tampa, Fla., April 7-9.

The Gophers currently have no exhibition games scheduled, but could add a preseason warm-up in the coming months.


2015-16 Gophers men's hockey schedule

Saturday 10/10/2015 Vermont (Hall of Fame Game)
Friday 10/16/2015 Minnesota Duluth
Saturday 10/17/2015 at Minnesota Duluth
Friday 10/23/2015 Northeastern
Saturday 10/24/2015 Northeastern
Friday 11/6/2015 at Notre Dame
Saturday 11/7/2015 at Notre Dame
Friday 11/13/2015 at Minnesota State
Saturday 11/14/2015 Minnesota State
Friday 11/27/2015 St. Cloud State
Sunday 11/29/2015 St. Cloud State
Friday 12/4/2015 Ohio State
Saturday 12/5/2015 Ohio State
Friday 12/11/2015 at Michigan
Saturday 12/12/2015 at Michigan
Friday 1/1/2016 Mariucci Classic vs. UConn
Harvard vs. Ferris St.
Saturday 1/2/2016 Mariucci Classic
Friday 1/8/2016 at Penn State
Saturday 1/9/2016 at Penn State
Friday 1/15/2016 Michigan State
Saturday 1/16/2016 Michigan State
Friday 1/22/2016 at Wisconsin
Saturday 1/23/2016 at Wisconsin
Friday 1/29/2016 North Star College Cup
Saturday 1/30/2016 North Star College Cup
Friday 2/5/2014 Penn State
Saturday 2/6/2014 Penn State
Friday 2/12/2016 at Ohio State
Saturday 2/13/2016 at Ohio State
Thursday 2/25/2016 Michigan
Friday 2/26/2016 Michigan
Friday 3/4/2016 at Michigan State
Saturday 3/5/2016 at Michigan State
Friday 3/11/2016 Wisconsin
Saturday 3/12/2016 Wisconsin
Thursday 3/17/2016 B1G Tournament (St. Paul)
Friday 3/19/2016 B1G Tournament (St. Paul)
Saturday 3/20/2016 B1G Tournament (St. Paul)
Friday 3/25/2016 NCAA Men's Hockey Regionals (St. Paul)
Saturday 3/26/2016 NCAA Men's Hockey Regionals (St. Paul)
Thursday 4/7/2016 Frozen Four (Tampa, Fla.)
Saturday 4/9/2016 Frozen Four (Tampa, Fla.)