Gophers, Big Ten release 2013-14 hockey schedules

The Gophers will play 36 games -- the Ice Breaker does not count against the maximum of 34 games the NCAA permits -- including 20 conference games.

Minnesota will be in three tournaments, the Icebreaker and the Mariucci Classic, both on its home ice, and the as-yet unnamed tournament of four Minnesota teams at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Gophers will play two Sunday games -- one at home, one away -- one on Thursday and one on Monday. Otherwise, it's a normal Friday-Saturday routine.

The list of nonconference opponents outside of tournaments: Bemidji State (WCHA), Boston College (Hockey East), Notre Dame (Hockey East), Minnesota State Mankato (WCHA) and Minnesota Duluth (NCHC).

2013-14 Gophers Hockey Schedule

Date Day Opponent

Oct. 11 Friday Ice Breaker Tournament
Oct. 12 Saturday Ice Breaker Tournament

Comments: Gophers played last regular-season series at BSU last season and then met Beavers in first round of WCHA playoffs. Went 4-0 against them.

Oct. 25 Friday Boston College
Oct. 27 Sunday Boston College

Comments: Legendary coach Jerry York and junior forward Johnny Gaudreau, one of three finalists for Hobey Baker. Quality foe, but only Sunday game of season at home. The Big Ten Network influence.

Nov. 8 Friday @ Notre Dame
Nov. 9 Saturday @ Notre Dame

Comments: Coach Don Lucia returns to his alma mater to play the Irish, with Mario Lucia, his son playing left wing on one of top lines.

Comments: Nonconference matchup against former WCHA opponent. Mavericks, under second-year coach Mike Hastings, will be one of the favorites in that conference.

Nov. 22 Friday Minnesota-Duluth
Nov. 23 Saturday Minnesota-Duluth

Comments: First series against a team from the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference. UMD is another traditional WCHA foe.

Nov. 29 Friday Wisconsin
Nov. 30 Saturday Wisconsin

Comments: First series against a Big Ten Conference opponent. Gophers' fifth and sixth games in a row at home.
Dec. 6 Friday @ Michigan State
Dec. 7 Saturday @ Michigan State

Comments: The other three teams in the field have not been announced yet.

Jan. 12 Sunday @ Penn State
Jan. 13 Monday @ Penn State

Comments: First really different weekend, with games Sunday and Monday in Happy Valley.

Jan. 17 Friday Ohio State
Jan. 18 Saturday Ohio State

Comments: Buckeyes have new coach, Steve Rohlik. He was an assistant at UMD for 10 seasons before joining OSU staff. This will be his fourth season in Columbus.

Comments: This tournament, with four Division I teams from state each year, needs a good name.

Jan. 30 Thursday Michigan State
Jan. 31 Friday Michigan State
Feb. 1 Saturday Michigan State

Comments: Three games are listed because series could be either Thurs.-Fri. (33 percent chance) or Fri.-Sat.

Feb. 6 Thursday @ Wisconsin
Feb. 7 Friday @ Wisconsin
Feb. 8 Saturday @ Wisconsin

Comments: Three games are listed because series could be either Thurs.-Fri. (33 percent chance) or Fri.-Sat.

Comments: Three games are listed because series could be either Thurs.-Fri. (33 percent chance) or Fri.-Sat. ... Bottom line is one of these series -- vs. MSU, Wisconsin or Michigan -- will be Thurs.-Fri., others will be Fri.-Sat. as usual.

Feb. 28 Friday Penn State
March 1 Saturday Penn State

Comments: Nittany Lions played an independent schedule last season and were surprisingly competitive. PSU's plunge into Division I hockey is reason there is a Big Ten Conference.

March 7 Friday @Ohio State
March 8 Saturday @Ohio State

Comments: Gophers finish regular-season with four games on road.
March 14 Friday @Michigan
March 15 Saturday @ Michigan

March 20 Thursday Big Ten Quarterfinals at X
March 21 Friday Big Ten Semifinals at X
March 22 Saturday Big Ten Championship at X

Comments: Six team field, everybody advances to tournament.