Michigan
Notre Dame
U-M to Kick Off B1G Tourney at Home with Notre Dame Wednesday
3/9/2026 2:47:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked and second-seeded University of Michigan hockey team (26-7-1, 17-16-1 Big Ten) will begin the 2026 postseason on Wednesday (March 11), hosting No. 7 seed Notre Dame (9-22-5, 5-17-2 Big Ten) at Yost Ice Arena at 7 p.m. The Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game, now just one game rather than a three-set series, will be streamed on B1G+.
Notes
• Michigan enters the postseason with a 26-7-1 overall record and currently ranks first in the NCAA Percentage Index (RPI), which is used to help determine the NCAA Tournament field. The Wolverines remain No. 1 in the national polls for the second consecutive week after previously holding the top spot for 11 straight weeks earlier this season.
• Michigan went 4-0 against Notre Dame (9-22-5) during the regular season, collecting 11 of a possible 12 points in the series. The Wolverines earned 5-3 and 2-1 overtime victories in South Bend in the fall -- a series that also saw the season-ending injury to defenseman Henry Mews. Michigan followed with 5-2 and 7-4 wins at Yost Ice Arena in early January, a series that included an injury to goaltender Jack Ivankovic.
• Michigan holds a 97-71-6 advantage in the all-time series against Notre Dame and has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. The Wolverines are 3-0 against the Fighting Irish in the Big Ten Tournament, including a sweep of the best-of-three quarterfinal series in 2024 and a semifinal victory in 2022.
• Senior T.J. Hughes has totaled 18 career points against the Fighting Irish (seven goals, 11 assists) in 16 games. Junior Garrett Schifsky has nine points (four goals, five assists) in 12 games, while junior Nick Moldenhauer has added eight points (four goals, four assists) in 12 career meetings.
• This is the fourth time Michigan is the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and is 10-0 when it's the No. 2 seed, winning the Big Ten Tournament title each time -- in 2016, 2022 and 2023.
• Michigan enters the postseason with the No. 1 power play in the country. The Wolverines have converted on 29.8 percent of their chances (36-of-121). They also have not allowed a short-handed goal all season. Notre Dame's power play ranks fifth, converting on 27.5 percent (30-of-109).
• With a bye week last week, Michigan hosted Simon Fraser in an exhibition game at Yost Ice Arena. Hughes led the way with a five-point outing, netting two goals and three assists. Jayden Perron had a goal and three helpers, while Hunter Hady, Michael Hage and Schifsky each had two points. All three goaltenders played, each taking on a period.
• Hughes leads the Wolverines in scoring with 47 points, totaling 18 goals and 29 assists. Hage sits just two points behind with a team-high 33 assists to go along with 12 goals. Will Horcoff has a team-best 22 goals and has added 13 assists for 35 points, including seven game-winning tallies. In net, Ivankovic owns a 2.15 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage while compiling a 20-7-1 record.
