Michigan, Ohio State hockey to square off at a legendary stadium this winter

This one is going to be fun!
Feb 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Stephen Halliday (19) hits Michigan Wolverines forward Kienan Draper (33) during the NCAA men   s hockey game at Value City Arena.
Feb 2, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Stephen Halliday (19) hits Michigan Wolverines forward Kienan Draper (33) during the NCAA men s hockey game at Value City Arena. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan and Ohio State's hockey programs will get a chance of a lifetime this coming January. The Big Ten and Chicago Cubs have agreed to host four hockey games at historic Wrigley Field on January 3 and 4.

There will be a doubleheader on both Jan. 3 and Jan. 4. Penn State vs. Notre Dame will be the first game of the weekend followed by Michigan and Ohio State. On Saturday, January 4, Ohio State and Wisconsin(WCHA) will play the first game, and then Wisconsin vs. Michigan State will wrap the weekend up.

The weekend contest will be called The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.

You can find the entire press release below:


ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference and the Chicago Cubs announced today plans to host a pair of college hockey doubleheaders at Wrigley Field in January 2025. The event will be known as The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.

Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti, Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney and Chicago Blackhawks President of Business Operations Jaime Faulkner spoke at a news conference Thursday at Wrigley Field and were joined by Colin Faulkner, Chicago Cubs Chief Commercial Officer; Steve Mayer, NHL Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Content Officer; and Chris Chelios, Chicago Blackhawks Team Ambassador and University of Wisconsin alum. The event was broadcast live on the Big Ten Network with Rick Pizzo moderating.

The Frozen Confines will feature three Big Ten men’s hockey games, plus a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) women’s game, the weekend of January 3-4, 2025 at Wrigley Field. Big Ten Network will carry all four games live. While the order of games is pending, start times are set for 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. CT on January 3 and for 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. CT on January 4. The game pairings are:

Friday, January 3, 2025:
Penn State vs. Notre Dame, BTN
Ohio State vs. Michigan, BTN

Saturday, January 4, 2025:
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (WCHA), BTN
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State, BTN

Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin each spent time in the Top 20 national polls last season with four of the teams finishing in the Top 10. Since 2022 all six schools have seen NCAA Tournament action with Michigan advancing to three-straight Frozen Fours.

On the women’s side, Ohio State and Wisconsin have combined to win the last five national championships and have met in the last two NCAA Championship games.

The weekend of college hockey follows the Discover NHL Winter Classic® between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks on December 31, 2024, the second NHL Winter Classic to be held at Wrigley Field.

Tickets for the Frozen Confines go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 30, at 10 a.m. CT and are available at Cubs.com/BigTenHockey.

- Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI -

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Trent Knoop

TRENT KNOOP