Big Ten Hockey Opens Week Two With Six Teams in Action

Six Big Ten hockey teams enter the second week of the 2026-27 season with ranked matchups and tournament appearances across the conference landscape. The slate begins after the league released its Week 2 update on October 8, 2026, covering games involving Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Michigan and Wisconsin.

According to the Big Ten Week 2 Hockey Release, No. 17/17 Penn State will make its season debut at the 30th Ice Breaker Tournament by traveling to Connecticut and Sacred Heart. Ohio State also starts its season with a two-game series at RPI.

The Big Ten release said No. 3/3 Michigan State will host Northern Michigan in games Friday and Sunday, while Notre Dame will face Niagara in a series beginning Thursday evening. No. 2/2 Michigan will host Alaska Anchorage, and No. 7/7 Wisconsin will visit No. 19/19 Minnesota State.

According to the Big Ten, conference programs have won eight Ice Breaker championships, including four titles since becoming members of Big Ten Hockey. Minnesota has captured three championships, Notre Dame has won two, and Michigan State won the inaugural tournament in 1997.

The Big Ten also reported that Minnesota defenseman Evan Murr was selected as one of six players for the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster for the 2026 Spengler Cup. Murr entered the season as a Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team honoree after transferring from Minnesota State.

According to the conference release, Murr earned second team All-America honors last season at Minnesota State and was twice named CCHA Defenseman of the Year. His selection places him among the early roster representatives for the international event.

The Big Ten stated that its hockey programs include 86 NHL draft picks from the 2022-26 draft years. Michigan State leads conference schools with 17 selections, including nine first-round picks, followed by Michigan with 16 selections and five first-round picks.

The conference also reported that Minnesota has 15 drafted players, while Ohio State and Penn State each have 10, and Notre Dame and Wisconsin each have nine. Forward Cayden Lindstrom is the conference's highest selection, having been chosen fourth overall by Columbus in 2024.

Big Ten officials also received major assignments during the 2025-26 season, according to the conference. Jake Davis worked as a linesman at the Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina, while Rocco Stachowiak and Matthew Heinmen officiated at the IIHF World Junior Championship.

The Big Ten release added that conference crews worked four NCAA Tournament games, including all three contests at the Sioux Falls Regional. Steve Piotrowski was named NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Secretary-Rules Editor, a role he previously held from 2008-19.