Michigan Hockey Schedule 2014-15: List of Games, Season Preview for Wolverines

Before the last two seasons, there were few things in all of college sports that were more reliable than the Michigan hockey team making it to the NCAA tournament.

After all, the Wolverines made the postseason 22 years in a row but missed out on the festivities in the 2013-14 campaign for the second consecutive season. If everything goes according to plan for the 2014-15 season, Michigan will start a brand-new streak of postseason appearances.

It all begins with the schedule, which can be found below.

Date	Opponent / Event	Location	Time
Sat., Oct. 4	at Ferris State	Big Rapids, Mich.	7:37 p.m. ET
Mon., Oct. 6	vs. US Under-18 ex	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Thu., Oct. 9	vs. Wilfrid Laurier ex	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Oct. 17	vs. New Hampshire	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Oct. 18	vs. New Hampshire	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Oct. 24	at UMass-Lowell	Lowell, Mass.	7:00 p.m. ET
Sat., Oct. 25	at Boston University	Boston, Mass.	TBA
Fri., Oct. 31	at Michigan Tech	Houghton, Mich.	7:00 p.m. ET
Sat., Nov. 1	at Michigan Tech	Houghton, Mich.	7:00 p.m. ET
Fri., Nov. 14	vs. American International	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Nov. 15	vs. American International	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Nov. 21	vs. Penn State *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Nov. 22	vs. Penn State *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Nov. 28	vs. Rensselaer	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Nov. 29	vs. Rensselaer	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Dec. 5	vs. Ohio State *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Dec. 13	at Boston College	Chestnut Hill, Mass.	7:00 p.m. ET
Sun., Dec. 28 (50th Annual Great Lakes Invitational)	vs. Michigan Tech	Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)	TBA
Mon., Dec. 29 (50th Annual Great Lakes Invitational)	Michigan State/Ferris State	Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)	TBA
Fri., Jan. 9	vs. Minnesota *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Jan. 10	vs. Minnesota *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Jan. 16	at Ohio State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
Fri., Jan. 23	at Wisconsin *	Madison, Wis.	TBA
Sat., Jan. 24	at Wisconsin *	Madison, Wis.	TBA
Fri., Jan. 30	vs. Michigan State *	TBA	TBA
Sat., Feb. 7 (Coyote Logistics Hockey City Classic)	vs. Michigan State *	Chicago, Ill. (Soldier Field)	TBA
Fri., Feb. 13	at Minnesota *	Minneapolis, Minn.	TBA
Sat., Feb. 14	at Minnesota *	Minneapolis, Minn.	TBA
Fri., Feb. 20	at Ohio State *	Columbus, Ohio	TBA
Sun., Feb. 22	vs. Ohio State *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Feb. 27	vs. Wisconsin *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Sat., Feb. 28	vs. Wisconsin *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
Fri., Mar. 6	at Penn State *	State College, Pa.	TBA
Sat., Mar. 7	at Penn State *	State College, Pa.	TBA
Fri., Mar. 13	at Michigan State *	East Lansing, Mich.	TBA
Sat., Mar. 14	vs. Michigan State *	Yost Ice Arena	TBA
2015 Big Ten Tournament
Thu., Mar. 19	Big Ten Tournament (First Round)	Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)	TBA
Fri., Mar. 20	Big Ten Tournament (Semifinals)	Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)	TBA
Sat., Mar. 21	Big Ten Tournament (Championship)	Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)	TBA

There are a number of games outside of the Big Ten contests that jump out on that schedule.

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

For one, the Wolverines will open with a true road game for the first time since the 2001-02 season when they play Ferris State. Michigan also has dates with strong contenders from the Hockey East in UMass-Lowell and Boston University. It will be Michigan’s first trip to UMass-Lowell’s Tsongas Center and third trip to Boston University’s Agganis Arena.

The Wolverines will also travel to Michigan Tech for the first time in head coach Red Berenson’s tenure and play at Boston College for the first time since 1990.

Berenson discussed the schedule quirks, via MGoBlue.com. “The beauty of the Big Ten is that it allows us to travel more and to see different conferences, so I think it’s been a win-win for scheduling.”

Tony Ding/Associated Press

Perhaps the best thing about the schedule from Michigan’s perspective is the fact that the Big Ten tournament is in Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Wolverines are trying to return to the NCAA tournament, so picking up victories late in the season in front of a partial crowd will be critical.

Eric Lennon of The Michigan Daily discussed the schedule and what it means for the Wolverines:

"

Non-conference action became the highlight of Michigan’s 2013-14 season. Though they weren't necessarily upsets, wins over No. 4 Boston College, No. 13 New Hampshire – especially given goaltender Zach Nagelvoort’s step-in performance – and No. 14 Boston University lifted the notably inexperienced Wolverines to No. 2 in the nation at one point in the season.

This season, Michigan’s non-conference schedule is slated to be just as difficult. And this team is still young, and equally talented, so while resume-building victories early might be sweet, they do not stamp a NCAA Tournament ticket.

"

If Michigan wants to return to the NCAA tournament, it will need a breakout season from some of its younger players.

Freshmen Zach Werenski (defenseman), Dylan Larkin (forward) and Dexter Dancs (forward) are all expected to make an immediate impact.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Werenski, who could be an early pick in the next NHL draft, totaled seven goals and 20 assists last year for the U.S. Under-17 team. Larkin was a first-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in June and finished last year with 31 goals and 25 assists for the U.S. Under-18 team. Dancs scored 26 goals and tallied 41 assists for the Vernon Vipers in the British Columbia Hockey League.

Throw in junior forward Cristoval Nieves, and the Wolverines are loaded with young and promising talent.

The question now is whether these pieces can all come together and lead Michigan back to the NCAA tournament after a brief time away. The nonconference tests early in the season may not be the easy victories some teams look for, but they will help the Wolverines by the time Big Ten play rolls around.

The young players will be battle-tested against some of the best teams in the nation and will respond accordingly with the postseason on the line.