This morning I attended a press conference at Wrigley Field as the Big Ten Conference and the Chicago Cubs announced plans to host two college hockey doubleheaders at Wrigley Field. In the words of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, “Let’s play two!”
Named The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series, the games will be played January 3–4, 2025, a few days after the Discover NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve. A play on Wrigley Field’s nickname of “the friendly confines,” The Frozen Confines will feature three Big Ten men’s hockey games and a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) women’s game. The tentative schedule is below. The times are set, but the order each day might change.
Winter Classic
December 31, 2024
St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks – 4:00 p.m. CST
The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series
Friday, January 3, 2025
Penn State vs. Notre Dame – 4:00 p.m. CST
Ohio State vs. Michigan – 7:30 p.m. CST
Saturday, January 4, 2025
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin (WCHA) – 4:30 p.m. CST
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State – 8:00 p.m. CST
Dignitaries on hand included Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti, Chicago Cubs President of Business Operations Crane Kenney and Chicago Blackhawks President of Business Operations Jaime Faulkner, NHL Hall of Famer Chris Chelios and other officials from the organizations involved.
As a big hockey fan, I am ecstatic about this news. Five hockey days within a week is a great way to end one year and start the next. Debuting this series at historic Wrigley Field gives it even more of a special feeling. In the middle of winter, so close to Lake Michigan, it’s going to be frigid, but I’ll be there, bundled up and loving it.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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