B1G Play to Begin at Penn State
11/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 30, 2016
» Michigan and the Nittany Lions meet for the 15th time, with U-M holding an 8-6 advantage.
» The Maize and Blue is coming off a 1-1 weekend series with Lake Superior State at Yost.
THIS WEEK
Thursday, Dec. 1 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 6:30 p.m.
TV: ESPNU | WatchESPN | | Listen
Thursday, Dec. 2 -- vs. Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
BTN Plus | | Listen
• Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team (6-5-1, 0-0-0-0 Big Ten) travels to No. 6-ranked Penn State University over the weekend in a two-game series to begin Big Ten play in State College, Pennsylvania. Play begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday (Dec. 1) and 7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 2).
Here is our stats comparison with Penn State as we head into tonight's game. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/4JlALGnp4J
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) December 1, 2016
• The matchup will mark the sixth consecutive time that both squads enter the game ranked in the USCHO poll (U-M No. 20; PSU No. 7), but the first in which the Nittany Lions carry a higher ranking.
• The Wolverines are coming off a series split with Lake Superior State, dropping Friday's (Nov. 25) contest 3-1 but bouncing back to win Saturday's (Nov. 26) game 4-1. Junior forward Tony Calderone scored in each game of the weekend, while sophomore Nicholas Boka added his first career goal.
• The two programs face off for the 15th time, all in Big Ten regular-season or tournament play. The Wolverines have won each of the last five matchups and hold an 8-6 advantage all-time in the series.
• Last season, Michigan swept the regular-season series, scoring 26 goals over the four-game span. The Wolverines also bested the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten semifinals, 7-4.
• The two teams met at Madison Square Garden in New York City last season as part of the Big Ten Super Saturday doubleheader with men's basketball. U-M won that contest, 6-3.
• The Maize and Blue is 2-3-0 in State College, winning the first matchup there in February 2014, as well as last year's lone matchup, 7-4.
• Michigan has tallied a record of 4-1-1-1 in the opening weekend of Big Ten play since the conference was formed in 2013-14. Dating back to Berenson's debut season in 1984-85, Michigan has compiled a 40-13-7-2 record (CCHA/Big Ten) in opening conference series weekends.
• Sean Ritchlin, a U-M alum and member of the 1996 and 1998 national championship squads, will be the color commentator for Friday's contest on ESPNU.
UP AHEAD: Michigan hockey will be hosting a food drive on Saturday, Dec. 10, when the Wolverines host Wisconsin. Fans are encouraged to bring in canned food items to benefit Food Gatherers Food Bank of Ann Arbor. Any fan who brings at least two canned food items will receive a foam puck to throw onto the ice immediately following the conclusion of the game. Prizes will be awarded to the five fans who chuck their pucks closest to the targets.
Communications Contact: TJ Garske
