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Frozen Confines

Outdoor hockey game in Chicago From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Frozen Confines was a series of outdoor college hockey games played at Wrigley Field in Chicago January 3–4, 2025. The event was held in conjunction with the 2025 NHL Winter Classic that had been played at the same stadium days earlier. Three men's games were played between programs of the Big Ten Conference (Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin). One women's game was played between the Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's programs from two of the participating universities (the Ohio State and Wisconsin women's teams).

DateJanuary 3–4, 2025
Attendance50,497 (cumulative)
25,709 (Jan. 3)
24,788 (Jan. 4)
Quick facts Venue, Date ...
Frozen Confines
VenueWrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois
DateJanuary 3–4, 2025
Attendance50,497 (cumulative)
25,709 (Jan. 3)
24,788 (Jan. 4)
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Wrigley Field marquee ahead of the start of play on the second day

Each day of the event was ticketed as a double-header, with ticket holders having admission to both games on a given day. The two days of the Frozen Confines amassed a cumulative attendance of 50,497, with each day being attended by approximately 25,000 spectators.

Background

sign in the Wrigleyville neighborhood ahead of the 2009 NHL Winter Classic similarly referring to ice hockey at Wrigley Field as "The Frozen Confines", which is a reference to Wrigley Field's "The Friendly Confines" nickname
Wrigley Field, photographed after the conclusion of the final game
Big Ten Conference inflatable sculpture erected in Gallagher Way outside of Wrigley Field

On February 7, 2024, it was announced Wrigley Field (a Major League Baseball stadium that is the home venue of the Chicago Cubs) would host the NHL Winter Classic (an annual outdoor NHL game) the following season. Wrigley Field had previously been the site of the 2009 NHL Winter Classic.[1] In August 2024, it was announced that the Big Ten Conference would organize an ice hockey event on the same ice as the Winter Classic, featuring most of its men's ice hockey teams as well as two women's programs from Big Ten schools.[2]

The matches were the first college hockey matches to be held at Wrigley Field.[3][4] The event's name was a derivative of Wrigley Field's nickname, "The Friendly Confines".[5]

Since the Big Ten Conference has an odd-number of men's ice hockey teams (seven), one of the conference's teams (Minnesota) did not participate in the Frozen Confines.

While 67 collegiate outdoor ice hockey games had been played in the United States between 2001 and 2023,[6] prior to the Frozen Confines it had been two years since any college hockey team had played an outdoor game.[7]

Previous outdoor games featuring the participating teams

The event was:

  • Michigan men's ninth appearance in an outdoor game[8]
  • Michigan State men's fifth appearance in an outdoor game[9]
  • Ohio State men's fifth appearance in an outdoor game[9]
  • Notre Dame men's fourth appearance in an outdoor game[9]
  • Wisconsin men's fourth appearance in an outdoor game[6]
  • Wisconsin women's second appearance in an outdoor game[6]
  • Ohio State women's first appearance in an outdoor game[9]
  • Penn State men's first appearance in an outdoor game[9]
More information Event, Team ...
Previous outdoor games featuring the participating teams[9]
EventTeamOpponent playedVenueNotes
DateEvent namePhotoNameLocationDescription
October 6, 2001Cold WarMichigan men vs. Michigan StateSpartan StadiumEast Lansing, MichiganCollege football stadiumFirst outdoor game appearances of both Michigan and Michigan State
February 11, 2006Frozen Tundra Hockey ClassicOhio State men's vs Wisconsin men'sLambeau FieldGreen Bay, WisconsinNFL professional football stadiumFirst outdoor game appearances of both Ohio State men's and Wisconsin men's
February 6, 2010Camp Randall Hockey ClassicMichigan vs. Wisconsin men’sCamp Randall StadiumMadison, WisconsinCollege football stadiumSecond outdoor game appearances of both Michigan and Wisconsin men's, first outdoor game appearance of Wisconsin women's
Wisconsin women’sBemidji State
December 11, 2010The Big Chill at the Big HouseMichigan vs. Michigan StateMichigan StadiumAnn Arbor, MichiganCollege football stadiumThird outdoor game appearance of Michigan, second outdoor game appearance of Michigan State; set the all-time record for ice hockey attendance
January 15, 2012The Frozen Diamond FaceoffMichigan vs. Ohio State men'sProgressive FieldCleveland, OhioMLB professional baseball stadiumMichigan's fourth outdoor game appearance, Ohio State men's second outdoor game appearance
February 17, 2013OfficeMax Hockey City ClassicNotre DameMiami of OhioSoldier FieldChicago, IllinoisNFL professional football stadiumDouble-header; first outdoor game appearance of Notre Dame, third outdoor game appearance of Wisconsin men's
Wisconsin men'sMinnesota
December 27, 20132013 Hockeytown Winter Festival/ Great Lakes InvitationalMichiganWestern MichiganComerica ParkDetroit, MichiganMLB professional baseball stadiumDouble header; fifth outdoor game appearance of Michigan, third outdoor game appearance of Michigan State; the 2013 Hockeytown Winter Festival was held in conjunction with the 2014 NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. On other days at Comerica Park, it featured other college games, an AHL professional hockey game, and a OHL major junior game.
Michigan StateMichigan Tech
January 17, 20142014 OfficeMax Hockey City ClassicOhio State men'sMinnesotaHuntington Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MinnesotaCollege football stadiumOhio State men's third outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header
January 4, 2014Frozen Fenway 2014Notre DameBoston CollegeFenway ParkBoston, MassachusettsMLB professional baseball stadiumNotre Dame's second outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header. Frozen Fenway 2014 featured further matches on other days as well.
February 7, 20152015 OfficeMax Hockey City ClassicMichigan vs. Michigan StateSoldier FieldChicago, IllinoisNFL professional football stadiumMichigan's sixth outdoor game appearance, Michigan State's fourth outdoor game appearance; part of a double-header
January 5, 2019Let's Take This OutsideMichigan vs. Notre DameNotre Dame StadiumNotre Dame, IndianaCollege football stadiumMichigan's seventh outdoor game appearance, Notre Dame's third outdoor game appearance; held in conjunction with the 2019 Winter Classic at the same venue
February 18, 2023Faceoff on the LakeMichigan vs. Ohio State men'sHuntington Bank FieldCleveland, OhioNFL professional football stadiumMichigan's eighth outdoor game appearance; Ohio State men's fourth outdoor game appearance
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Alternate jerseys worn

Most teams wore special alternate jersey which took design cues from baseball jerseys.[10] The exception was Michigan State, which opted to instead wear their usual white "home" jerseys for the games.[11]

Michigan uniforms

Michigan players wore uniforms which took design cues from Chicago Cubs baseball uniforms of the 1980s.[3] The jerseys took inspiration from road jerseys which the Chicago Cubs wore in the 1980s. The hockey jerseys were primarily yellow ("maize")[11][10] and featured a navy blue version of the University of Michigan's "Block M" emblem on its left chest,[11] placed similarly to where Cubs jerseys typically local a "C" logo.[12] The jerseys featured a white collar with a navy blue trim. The right sleeves featured player numbers in navy blue (with white outlines) using the Chicago Cubs jersey font. This same font and color scheme was also used for the jersey numbers on the back of the jersey. Player names on the backs of the jerseys were also in navy blue with white outlines, and featured text which arched over the player number.[11][10] The left sleeve featured a patch with the likeness of Biff, the Michigan Wolverine. The hockey socks worn by the school's players were primarily yellow, but featured navy blue panels on the front and the back meant to mimic the shape of Baseball stirrups.[11][12] The right sleeve featured the player number (which was also included on the back of each jersey).[10] The collars of the jerseys were typical of hockey jerseys.[10] Michigan players also wore helmets with blue-and-yellow "winged" patterns. The hockey pants and gloves worn by their players were navy blue.[11] The pants featured a yellow ("maize") "Block M" logo on the right leg.[10] The jersey design was regarded to be unconventional for the sport of ice hockey.[11]

Notre Dame uniforms

Notre Dame wore white jerseys that featured a depiction the school's leprechaun mascot inset inside of a C that resembles the Chicago Cubs logo.[13] The sleeves took design cues from the flag of Chicago, while also featuring iconography associated with its university. The sleeves featured light two blue blue stripes and one white stripe, which that resembled the layout of the flag. Four golden shamrocks were located within the white stripe, resembling the placement of the four red stars that are featured on the flag of Chicago.[3][13] The shoulers of the jerseys also featured gold-colored "ND" insignias. Player numbers were also included on the sleeves (for easier television-viewer identification of players), colored in light blue and outlined with a black and navy border.[13]

Ohio State men's uniforms

Ohio State men’s look for their Wrigley Field matchup against fierce rivals Michigan borrows heavily from the school’s baseball team, with a script “Ohio State” logo across the chest and a player number underneath on the front of the jersey.

Like many of the other jersey designs, the Ohio State men's jerseys also were influenced by the school's baseball team's kit. The jersey featured an "Ohio State" script wordmark across its chest, with player numbers beneath. The main color of the jersey was a dark grey. The script and numbers on the front were white with red outlines. The numbers on the back were done in the same manner, but the player names were solid white without any outline.[14] Each shoulder had a patch with a buckeye leaf inside of a circle. The same circular insignia was also located at the front of the collar, but was rendered at a smaller size there.[15][14] The collars also featured a thin red trim. Red, white, and black stripes (similar to those featured on the school's football team jerseys) were included near waist-level on the torso and on the sleeves of the jersey.[15]

Players wore grey hockey pants with a team logo on the right leg. Players also wore red gloves. They also wore predominantly grey stockings that featured a red, white, and grey striping matching those on the jersey sleeves and waist.[15] The team wore their standard helmets, which resembled the school's football helmets (predominantly silver, featuring a red, white, and grey stripe down its center.[15][14] Players sported Buckeye leaf merit stickers on their helmets.[14] Player numbers were included on the front of the helmets.[15]

Ohio State women's uniforms

The Ohio State women's team wore its own special alternate jersey, with a design unique from that worn by the men's team.[16]

Penn State uniforms

Penn State wore navy bluejerseys which took minor design cues from the baseball jerseys of the Chicago Cubs and of Penn State Nittany Lions baseball. The jerseys' belly featured diagonally angled script reading "Nittany Lions", in reference to the design of the university baseball team's own alternate jerseys.[17]The jersey referenced Cubs jerseys by using Cubs jersey fonts on its nameplates (which were arched), lettering, and numbers.[17][18] The jerseys also featured rendered ivy leafs in reference to the famous ivy on Wrigley Field's outfield walls.[17]

The jerseys also featured a white yoke on the shoulder, as a tribute to the jerseys previously worn by Penn State's club hockey teams in the 1950s. The sleeves had two broad white strips, in reference to the design of the jerseys worn by the 1979–80 Penn State Icers team. The waist of the jerseys featured a single white strip. The collars of the jersey were navy blue and white, with white laces at their front. The inside of the collar featured a white baseball stitching-inspired pattern set atop a navy blue background.[18]

The shoulders of the jerseys also featured a "walking lion" logo, with the lion rendered atop a navy blue letter "S". This lion logo referenced the "walking bear" logo of the Chicago Cubs.[18] Team captain Simon Mack's jersey featured a captain's "C" which was rendered using the leter-C team logo of the Cubs.[17]

Goaltender Arsenii Sergeev wore a goaltender helmet which featured artwork containing ivy leaves and the aforementioned "walking lion" logo on its sides; with the logo of the Frozen Confines being rendered on the backside of the helmet.[17]

The jerseys were paired with retro-colored gloves and pants which the Penn State team had already worn with their other alternative uniforms.[19]

Wisconsin men's uniforms

Wisconsin men's players at Wrigley Field

Wisconsin's men's team wore jerseys which featured "baseball-inspired font".[20] The jersey sweater was red with the word "Badgers" adorning the chest in white script with a black outline. The jerseys did not feature a front-facing number. Instead, numbers were listed on the sleeves and the back, indicated in white block font outlined in black and accentuated by drop shadows. Player names were listed on the back of the sweaters in white serif block font. Four white stripes and three black stripes of equal width adorned each sleeve as well as the waist of the sweaters. The middlemost (black) stripe was bisected by an overlapping red pinstripe.[21]

The jerseys were worn with black hockey pants, a difference from the red pants of the team's regular kit. The addition of black pants allowed the Badgers' kits to somewhat resemble the regular kit of the Chicago Blackhawks, which features black pants.[20] The pants featured the same "Badgers" script as the jersey written on the red leg. Wisconsin men's players also wore red helmets, with the same "Badgers" script featured as a raised sticker. The players also wore red socks (which also featured the same striping pattern as the sleeves and waist of the jerseys. Completing the kit were red gloves.[21]

The jerseys bore some familiarity to the jerseys once worn by the university's disbanded varsity baseball team.[22]

Wisconsin women's uniforms

Wisconsin women's players at Wrigley Field

The Wisconsin women wore jerseys which featured "Wisconsin" written across their chest, which the program described as "a vintage look and a nod to historic Wisconsin jerseys." This also resembled the jerseys that had been previously worn by the university's baseball program prior to its discontinuance.[20] The jerseys were white, with the "Wisconsin" written across the chest in a solid-red colored script. Below the script, on the front-facing side of the jersey, player numbers were listed in the same solid red color. The jerseys did not have sleeve numbers, instead having a sleeve patch in the shape of Wisconsin. The inclusion of the patch was described as allowing the team "to represent [its] home state [while playing] away from home". Player numbers were also listed on the back of the jerseys in the same font as on the front, and in a similar solid red. While same solid red were used for player names on the back of the jerseys, the font for the names was instead a serif block font. The two fonts used were each described to be themed to the games site at Wrigley Field. The jerseys featured to red stripes around its sleeves and along its waist. The jersey collar was white with a red trim, and also feature a red Under Armour logo on the front of it.[21]

The kit featured white socks with the same pair of red stripes that were featured on parts of the jersey. The kit also featured red pants and red gloves.[21]

Logistics

Wrigley Field's center field scoreboard set-up to display the January 3 scores

All of the games were aired on the Big Ten Network.[11]

The event featured three Big Ten Hockey men's matchups, and one Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) women's matchup.[23]

Concession stands at the game offered the sale of beer in hockey stick-shaped souvenir glasses.[24]

Ticketing and attendance numbers

Each day of the event was ticketed as a double-header, with ticket holders having admission to both games on a given day.

The first game of each day began in the afternoon, and was followed by a night game.[25]

Each day of the event saw attendance of approximately 25,000.[25] The first day saw attendance of 25,709 and the second day saw attendance of 24,788,[26] amassing a cumulative attendance of 50,497.[27][28] On the first day, likely due in part to cold weather, significantly fewer spectators attended the second game compared to the first. Many left before or soon after the conclusion of the Michigan–Ohio State game.[29]

Security

The games were held several days after the 2025 New Orleans truck attack. According to Alderman Brian K. Hopkins (chair of the Chicago City Council's Public Safety Committee), the attack in New Orleans motivated the City of Chicago government to implement additional security precautions during the games. This included placing a greater number of movable vehicle barriers in the area surrounding Wrigley Field than had been previously planned. The city had months earlier increased its stock of such barriers to accommodate the security logistics of the 2024 Democratic National Convention that was held in the city in August 2024.[30]

In addition to the game, there were various related festivities in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. These included a pop-up exhibition dubbed "Getzky's Basement" in a building near the stadium, featuring various artifacts related to NHL great Wayne Gretzky's playing career. The exhibition was hosted by Greztky's son, Ty Gretzky.[24]

On January 4, Sluggers Bar in Wrigleyville hosted an official pre-game event for Wisconsin fans.[31]

Players absent due to 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

Due to the conflicting dates of the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, four men's players were absent from men's teams rosters during the Frozen Confines in order to compete for the United States in the World Juniors: Michigan State's Trey Augustine; Notre Dame's Paul Fischer and Danny Nelson; and Wisconsin's Logan Hensler.[32]

Weather

The games took place as Chicago was impacted by a "deep freeze" winter weather pattern.[4] The team benches featured heating,[29] and CBS News Chicago (WBBM-TV) reported that fans in attendance had come dressed for such cold weather.[30]

On January 3, the local temperature was 24 °F (−4 °C; 269 K) during the first game's opening face-off.[28] Cold dry air at the stadium created a low wind chill.[29] Local temperatures on January 4 were below-freezing temperatures,[30] with weather conditions being described by ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV) as "bitterly cold".[7] The below-freezing temperatures impacted not only the game experience, but also the ice quality.[29]

To equip players for the weather, team equipment staffs took care to bring thermal gear.[29]

Michigan vs. Ohio State men's (January 3, 2025)

venue during the Michigan vs. Ohio State game

The game between the Michigan and Ohio State men's teams was scheduled as the first of a two-game series between the teams, with Michigan considered to be the "home" team. The second game of the series was played at Michigan's home rink, Yost Arena on January 5. Heading into the game, Michigan was ranked 9th nationally among NCAA men's programs, [4][33] while Ohio State was ranked #13.[4][34] Michigan and Ohio's hockey programs are regarded to have a strong rivalry.[35]

Attendance during the game was in excess of 25,000.[36]

Ahead of the game, a ceremonial puck drop was performed by former Michigan coach Red Berenson.[37]

Game statistics

January 3, 2025[34][38] Michigan Wolverines 3–4 Ohio State Buckeyes (men's) Wrigley Field Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MICH Michael Hage 18:14 1–0 MICH
2nd MICH T.J. Hughes Will Horcoff, Evan Werner 04:42
(power play)
2–01 MICH
OSU Sam Deckhut Noah Powell, Brent Johnson 12:56 2–1 MICH
OSU Noah Powell Chris Able 18:37 2–2 TIE
3rd MICH Will Horcoff Michael Hage, T.J. Hughes 9:15
(power play)
3–2 MICH
OSU Riley Thompson Aiden Hansen-Bukata, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine 12:05
(power play)
3–3 TIE
OSU Riley Thompson Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Davis Burnside 19:21.6
(power play)
4–3 OSU
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More information Penalty summary, Period ...
Penalty summary
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
2nd OSU Davis Burnside Cross checking (minor) 3:19 2:00
2nd MICH Jacob Truscott Cross checking (minor) 11:08 2:00
2nd MICH Hunter Hady Elbowing (minor) 12:05 2:00
2nd MICH Mark Estapa Cross checking (minor) 15:35 2:00
3rd MICH Will Horcoff Slashing (minor) 2:50 2:00
3rd OSU Max Montes Hooking (minor) 7:55 2:00
3rd MICH Mark Estapa Face-off violation (minor) 11:48 2:00
3rd MICH Josh Ernisse Hooking (minor) 18:52 2:00
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More information Team, Total ...
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Game stats by player (Michigan)[39]
More information Player, POS ...
Player POS G A +/- SH PIM
Jacob TruscottLD00012
Ethan EdwardsRD00-120
Kienan DraperC00-200
Cameron KorpiG00000
Philippe LapointeLW00020
Josh EernisseRW00012
T. J. HughesC11040
Michael HageC11170
Garrett SchifskyLW00020
Mark EstapaC00-114
Will FelicioXD00-110
Hunter HadyRD00-102
Evan WernerRW01020
Josh OrricoRD00000
Luca FantilliLD00000
William WhitelawRW00-110
Nick MoldenhauerRW00000
Will HorcoffLW11042
Jackson HallumLW00050
Dakoda Rheaume-MullenLD00110
Total34-53412
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Game stats by player (Ohio)[39]
More information Player, POS ...
Player POS G A +/- SH PIM
Riley ThompsonC20080
Nathan McBrayerLD00100
Chris AbleRD01100
Gunnarwolfe FontaineLW02030
Kristoffer EberlyG00000
Davis BurnsideRW01022
James HongLW00010
Noah PowellXF11230
Max MontesC00112
Jake RozziLW00-110
Brent JohnsonRD01100
Aiden Hansen-BukataRD01-140
Joe DunlapRW00-120
William SmithLD00100
Ryan GordonRW00140
Sam DeckhutC10210
Thomas WeisRW00000
Jake DunlapLW00010
Patrick GuzzoC00-100
Damien CarfagnaLD00-130
Total475344
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Game synopsis

The game marked the collegiate hockey debut of Michigan's Will Horcoff (photographed at a game later that month)
Wrigley Field's center field scoreboard before the January 3 games

Michigan freshman Will Horcoff made his collegiate hockey debut in the game, and recorded a goal and an assist.[4]

In the third period, Michigan freshman Horcoff scored his first collegiate hockey goal during a power play for his team, giving his team a 3–2 lead.[33] However, Ohio State took advantage of a power play in their favor (courtesy of an two minute penalty for an unusual faceoff violation call on Michigan's Mark Estapa for a hand pass directly off a face-off)[37] to tie the game with a goal by Riley Thompson.[33][40] Thompson then scored again, making what proved to be a game-winning goal with only 38 seconds remaining in regulation play.[33][40]

Ohio State's Riley Thompson scored the game-winning-goal with only 38 seconds remaining in regulation play.[28]

Notre Dame vs. Penn State men's (January 3, 2025)

Game statistics

January 3, 2025[34][38] Penn State Nittany Lions (men's) 3–3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (men's) Wrigley Field Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary[41]
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st N DAME Grant Silianoff Jack Larrigan, Zach Lucinski 7:29 1–0 N DAME
PENNST Tyler Paquette Keaton Peters 8:25 1–1 TIE
N DAME Justin Janicke Blake Biondi, Cole Knuble 19:19 2–1 N DAME
2nd PENNST Matt Dimarsico Charlie Cerrato, Aiden Fink 19:28 2–2 TIE
3rd PENNST Aiden Fink Dane Dowiak 00:10 3–2 PENNST
N DAME Carter Slaggert Grant Silianoff, Jack Larrigan 11:02 3–3 TIE
OT N/a 3–3 TIE
2OT N/a 3–3 TIE
SO N DAMERyan HelliwellN/a[a]
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More information Team, Goals/Opportunities ...
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Goals by period[41]
More information Team, OT ...
Team 1 2 3 OT 2OT Total (NCAA) SO* Total (Big Ten)
Penn State 1 1 1 0 0 3 (tie) 0 3
Notre Dame 2 0 1 0 0 1 4
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Game stats by player (Penn State)[42]
More information Player, POS ...
Player POS G A +/- SH PIM
Cade ChristensonLD00010
Reese LaubachC00140
Aiden FinkRW11220
Arsenii SergeevG01000
Dane DowiakLW01130
Simon MackRD00110
Tyler PaquetteRW10020
Nick FasciaLD00000
Charlie CerratoC01040
Dylan LugrisRW00000
Ben SchoenC00000
Danny DzhaniyevLW00040
Matt DimarsicoLW10050
Jimmy Dowd Jr.RD00020
Carson DyckXF00000
Carter SchadeLD00042
Casey AmanRD00130
JJ WiebuschRW00-140
Alex ServagnoLW00002
Keaton PetersC01030
Total 355424
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Game stats by player (Notre Dame)[42]
More information Player, POS ...
Player POS G A +/- SH PIM
Nicholas KempfG00000
Cole KnubleC00-240
Axel KumlinLD00-230
Michael MastrodomenicoRD00-380
Blake BiondiRW01-240
Justin JanickeLW10-230
Henry NelsonLD00140
Hunter StrandC00050
Jayden DavisC00-102
Brennan AliLW01040
Maddox FlemingRW00000
Ryan HelliwellLD00000
Jack LarriganRW02210
Jimmy JurcevRD00012
Zach PlucinskiRD01210
Grant SilianoffLW11230
Ian MurphyRW00-120
Carter SlaggertC10220
Tyler CarpenterLW00-110
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Goaltender statistics[41]
More information Goaltender, Team ...
Goaltender Team Mins Saves GA
Arsenii Sergeev PENNST 65 43 3 (NCAA)
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Further statistics[41]
More information Statistic, Penn State ...
Statistic Penn State Notre Dame
Faceoffs won 45 33
Short-handed goals 0 0
Penalty shot attempts/goals 1 1
Blocked shots 10 10
Infractions 2 0
Penalty minutes 4 4
Minor penalties 2 2
Major penalties 0 0
Misconduct (10 mins) 0 0
Game Misconduct 0 0
Gross Misconduct 0 0
Match penalty 0 0
Shootout goals 1 2
Empty net goals 0 0
Unassisted goals 0 0
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Game synopsis

Before the game, Penn State players warmed up by tossing a football on the field, and Notre Dame players warmed up by playing catch with a baseball and baseball mitts (while Michigan and Ohio State were still playing).[3]

A shootout was held for the purposes of awarding one team an additional point in conference rankings.[43] Notre Dame won the shootout after eight rounds,[28] with Ryan Helliwell scoring the winning shootout goal.[43]

Penn State goaltender Arsenii Sergeev would be named one the Big Ten first star of the week.[44]

Ohio State vs. Wisconsin women's (January 4, 2025)

Wisconsin women's players enter the ice for their game

Wisconsin entered the game ranked #1 among NCAA Division I women's programs,[28] while Ohio State entered the game ranked #2.[4] The two teams had faced each-other in the two most recent national championship games (2023 and 2024).[20] The game began at approximately 4:30pm central time.[20] The game was the second of a series between Wisconsin and Ohio State's women's team, considered a "home" series for Wisconsin's team. The first game had been played January 1 at Wisconsin's LaBahn Arena.[45] In the first game of their series, held two days prior, Wisconsin had shutout Ohio 6–0.[46]

The game began at approximately 4:30 pm local time.[6] Attendance for the game was nearly 25,000;[47] with the crowd being described as having a larger share of Wisconsin fans than Ohio fans.[26]

Game statistics

January 4, 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes (women's) 3–3 Wisconsin Badgers (women's) Wrigley Field Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary[48]
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st OHIOST Jordyn Petrie Joy Dunne, Emma Peschel 0:49 1–0 OHIOST
WISC Caroline Harvey Kirsten Simms, Casey O'Brien 5:52 1–1 WISC
WISC Kirsten Simms unassisted 10:01 2–1 WISC
2nd OHIOST Makenna Webster Jocelyn Amos 18:20 2–2 TIE
3rd OHIOST Joy Dunne Jenna Buglioni, Joryn Petrie 02:38 3–2 OHIOST
WISC Kelly Gorbatenko Laney Potter, Ava Murphy 14:17 3–3 TIE
OT N/a 3–3 TIE
SO OHIOST Jenna Buglioni shootout N/a
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Three stars

Wisconsin goaltender Ava McNaughton (pictured) was named the third star of the women's match

Named as the three stars were:[49]

  • 1st: Jenna Buglioni (Ohio State)
  • 2nd: Amanda Theile (Ohio State)
  • 3rd: Ava McNaughton (goaltender, Wisconsin)

Game synopsis

The women's match saw a tight contest between two of the nation's top women's teams. However, the third period saw a number of costly mistakes by Wisconsin, including one which allowed a goal by Penn State early in the period, as well as several penalties for Wisconsin.[46]

The gam officially ended as a tie; however shootout was held for the purposes of awarding one team an additional point in conference rankings. Ohio State won the shootout after seven rounds.[46][28]

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin men's (January 4, 2025)

The Star Spangled Banner being performed before the start of the Michigan State vs. Wisconsin game

Michigan State entered the game as the #1 ranked team in the NCAA, while Wisconsin was unranked. Michigan State was regarded to be the "home" team.

The game was the second of a two-game series, the first game of which had been played January 2 at Munn Ice Arena in Lansing, Michigan.[50]

The game began at approximately 8pm central time.[20] Since Michigan State's starting goaltender, Trey Augustine, was competing for the United States in the World Junior Championships, Luca Di Pasquo played goaltender for the team.[47]

While both teams had previously played outdoor games, this marked the first such game which Wisconsin had played in a baseball venue. Since Wisconsin men had won their previous outdoor game appearances,[51] and ultimately marked Wisconsin's first loss in an outdoor game.

Game statistics

Wisconsin players departing the ice at the end of a period
January 4, 2025 Michigan State (men's) 4–3 Wisconsin Badgers (men's) Wrigley Field Recap
More information Scoring summary, Period ...
Scoring summary[52]
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st MSU Vladislav Lukashevich 15:36 1–0 MSU
2nd MSU Daniel Russell Austin Oravetz, Isaac Howard 4:29 2–0 MSU
WISC Gavin Morrissey Anthony Keherer 10:17 2–1 MSU
WISC Quinn Finley Joe Palodichuk, Ryland Mosley 14:35 2–2 TIE
3rd MSU Isaac Howard Daniel Russell, Matt Basgall 7:32 3–2 MSU
WISC Ryland Mosely Quinn Finley, Ben Dexheimer 19:12 3–3 TIE
OT MSU Daniel Russell Nicklas Andrews, Isaac Howard 4:59 4–3 MSU
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Game synopsis

fireworks after the final goal

Michigan's Daniel Russell scored the game-winning goal with only a single second remaining in overtime.[28]

Michigan State players Daniel Russell and Isaac Howard were named the Big Ten second and third stars of the week.[44]

Notes

  1. for NCAA's official record, the game ended as a 3–3 tie. For Big Ten tournament seeding purposes, the game was won by Notre Dame 4–3

References

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