Big Ten Hockey is a collegiate ice hockey conference part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level, primarily consisting of universities from the Big Ten Conference. It was founded following the realignment of hockey conferences in 2011-2013. The owner of Big Ten Hockey is essentially the Big Ten Conference, a union of 14 major research universities in the United States. Big Ten Hockey operates primarily in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States, encompassing universities from states like Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The conference is known for its competitive teams and has become a significant part of college hockey in the U.S.
Big Ten Hockey’s foundation traces back to the early 2010s, specifically the 2011-2013 NCAA conference realignment, which saw significant changes in conference affiliations across various sports. The official establishment of Big Ten Hockey as a conference was in 2013, as a response to the growing popularity and competitiveness of college hockey. This marked a new era for the universities within the Big Ten Conference that had longstanding hockey traditions, such as the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and the University of Minnesota.
Since its inception, Big Ten Hockey has achieved several notable milestones. These include producing numerous NCAA tournament teams, having multiple players selected in the NHL draft, and several of its member teams winning prestigious awards and championships. The conference is particularly renowned for its intense rivalries, high-quality play, and the development of players who go on to have successful professional careers in hockey.
In the current landscape of collegiate sports, Big Ten Hockey holds a prominent position. It is recognized for its contribution to the growth of college hockey in the United States and for maintaining high standards of competition and player development. The conference continues to attract top talent and remains a key player in shaping the future of collegiate hockey.
What is Big Ten Hockey?
Big Ten Hockey is a collegiate ice hockey conference within the NCAA Division I, comprising major universities mainly from the Big Ten Conference. It is recognized for fostering intense rivalries, high-level competition, and contributing significantly to the growth of college hockey in the United States. The conference plays a crucial role in the development of young athletes, many of whom go on to pursue professional careers in hockey.
In fact, the Big Ten Hockey logo is based on that of the Big Ten Conference. We can see the familiar Big Ten wordmark, where the white “B” is followed by the two blue glyphs that can be interpreted as either the numeral “10” or as the letters “I” and “G” (forming the word “Big”). Below, the word “Hockey” in white can be seen. It is given in a simple sans serif all-caps font. The background is black. We can mention an older logo where the word “Ten” was used, while the word “Hockey” was written across a blue banner.