Gophers Hockey Faces Tough Path in Big Ten Tournament

Minnesota will need to upset top seeds Penn State and Michigan State to reach the conference championship game.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a disappointing 11-21-3 regular season, the University of Minnesota men's hockey team claimed the sixth seed in this year's Big Ten tournament. They will face off against third-seeded Penn State in the first round on Wednesday night, with the winner likely advancing to play top-seeded Michigan State. The Gophers had mixed results against their Big Ten opponents in the regular season, but face an uphill battle to make a surprise tournament run.

Why it matters

The Big Ten hockey tournament represents Minnesota's last chance to salvage their season and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. While the Gophers have shown they can compete with any team in the conference, their inconsistent play and tough draw make them a long shot to win the title.

The details

Minnesota will need to pull off an upset over Penn State, who beat them twice by a combined score of 8-2 in the regular season. If they advance, they would likely face Michigan State, who swept the Gophers in three games. Minnesota's goaltender Luca Di Pasquo has faced the third-most shots in the Big Ten, so his play will be crucial. Oddsmakers have installed Michigan State and Michigan as heavy favorites, with Minnesota listed at +3500 to win the tournament.

  • The Big Ten tournament first-round games will be played on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.
  • The tournament semifinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • The Big Ten championship game will take place the following Saturday, March 22, 2026.

The players

Luca Di Pasquo

The University of Minnesota's starting goaltender, who has faced the third-most shots in the Big Ten conference this season.

Gavin McKenna

The Penn State Nittany Lions' star player, who oddsmakers believe could lead his team to a surprise Big Ten tournament title.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winner of the Minnesota-Penn State first-round matchup will advance to face top-seeded Michigan State in the tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 15, 2026.

The takeaway

Minnesota's Gophers hockey team faces an uphill battle to make a surprise run in the Big Ten tournament, needing to upset higher-seeded opponents Penn State and Michigan State to reach the championship game. Their inconsistent regular season performance and tough draw make them a long shot, but strong goaltending from Luca Di Pasquo could give them a chance against any team in the conference.