Big Ten announces schedule for 2015-16 college hockey season

The Big Ten office announced the dates and opponents for the 2015-16 hockey season Wednesday, featuring 20-game schedules for each of the six conference programs. The schedule concludes with the 2016 Big Ten Men?s Ice Hockey Tournament, to be held March 17-19 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minn.

[ View the 2015-16 Big Ten Hockey Schedule ]

All six conference teams will open Big Ten play Dec. 4-5. The opening weekend will feature Michigan hosting Wisconsin, Minnesota welcoming Ohio State and Penn State entertaining Michigan State. The two-time defending Big Ten Champion Gophers will make their road debut Dec. 11-12 at Michigan, while Wisconsin will visit Michigan State the same weekend.

The Big Ten schedule resumes with three series the weekend of Jan. 8-9, which will mark the first of 10 consecutive weekends of conference play from January through March. The stretch is highlighted by a men's basketball and hockey doubleheader between Michigan and Penn State at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Jan. 30.

The final regular season games will take place on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12, with Penn State traveling to Michigan, Ohio State visiting Michigan State and Wisconsin playing at Minnesota.

The 2016 Big Ten Men?s Ice Hockey Tournament will feature all six teams in a single-elimination format.

For more information on the tournament, visit bigten.org.