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Penn State Hockey Faces No. 1 Michigan in Big Ten Semifinal
Can the Lions pull off the road upset against the high-powered Wolverines?
Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:50pm
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After easily defeating Minnesota 6-2 in the Big Ten quarterfinals, Penn State hockey will travel to Ann Arbor to take on the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines in the conference semifinal matchup. The Nittany Lions will look to replicate their road success against Michigan from last year's tournament, when they beat the Wolverines twice to secure their NCAA Tournament berth.
Why it matters
This game features a clash between two of the Big Ten's top teams, with Michigan ranked No. 1 in the NPI and Penn State coming in at No. 10. The winner will advance to the Big Ten championship game, with an opportunity to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
The details
Michigan comes into the game with a 27-7-1 record, having easily dispatched Notre Dame 6-1 in the opening round of the conference tournament. The Wolverines boast eight double-digit goal scorers and average 4.5 goals per game, posing a significant challenge for the Nittany Lions. However, Penn State was able to crack Michigan's freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic when the teams met earlier this season, and the return of center Charlie Cerrato should provide a boost to the Nittany Lions' offense.
- The game will take place on Saturday, March 14 at 5pm ET.
- Penn State defeated Minnesota 6-2 in the Big Ten quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 12.
The players
Michigan Wolverines
The No. 1 ranked team in the NPI, the Michigan Wolverines finished just two points behind Michigan State for the Big Ten regular season title.
Penn State Nittany Lions
The No. 10 ranked team in the NPI, Penn State is looking to replicate their road success against Michigan from last year's Big Ten tournament, when they beat the Wolverines twice to secure their NCAA Tournament berth.
Jack Ivankovic
The Michigan freshman goaltender, who has posted a .923 save percentage and 2.11 GAA this season.
Charlie Cerrato
The Penn State center, whose return should provide a boost to the Nittany Lions' offense.
Guy Gadowsky
The Penn State head coach, who recently passed former Brown and Dartmouth coach Bob Gaudet for 27th on the all-time NCAA wins list with 425 victories.
What’s next
The winner of this semifinal matchup will advance to the Big Ten championship game, with an opportunity to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
The takeaway
This game will be a tough test for Penn State, as they face a high-powered Michigan offense led by eight double-digit goal scorers. However, the Nittany Lions have proven they can win on the road against the Wolverines, and the return of Charlie Cerrato should provide a boost to their own offensive attack.
