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A new season brings big changes, as the Wisconsin men's hockey team transitions out of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to the newly formed Big Ten Hockey Conference. Monday, the league announced its TV schedule for the Big Ten Network, and the Badgers will appear on the league's flagship station six times.
So far the Badgers are scheduled to have 11 games televised in total. In addition to six games on the Big Ten Network, the Badgers have two games scheduled for ESPNU, two games scheduled for Fox Sports Wisconsin and one game that will appear on CBS College Sports.
At this point, the television schedule isn't considered final. There's still a good chance additional home games will be picked up by local television.
We expect a few additions RT @WiscDC: More TV games will be added later, I take it?
— Paul Capobianco (@BadgerMHockey) September 16, 2013
Even so, the initial release appears disappointing to Wisconsin fans who are already concerned about the move to the Big Ten. Last season alone, the Badgers had 23 regular-season games televised.
The difference right now is the home TV schedule on Fox Sports Wisconsin. Wisconsin Public Television produces those games, and they are shown on FS Wisconsin and FS Wisconsin PLUS. Last season, they produced 13 games. As of right now, they aren't officially scheduled to do any.
There are also multiple games in non-traditional time slots that will undoubtedly leave fans restless.
Wisconsin is scheduled to play at 4 p.m. CT the day after Thanksgiving at Minnesota. Other oddities include a 5 p.m. Saturday game at Minnesota Nov. 30, a Thursday game Feb. 6 when Minnesota comes to the Kohl Center, a 4 p.m. Saturday start Feb. 22 when Michigan State comes to town and a 3 p.m. Saturday clash against Michigan State in East Lansing March 15.
According to people at Wisconsin Public Television, it's still "TBD" on whether or not they will be doing games this season.
DAY | DATE | TIME | OPPONENT | TV OUTLET |
Friday | Nov. 15 | 5:30 | at Miami | CBS Sports Network |
Friday | Nov. 29 | 4:00 | at Minnesota | ESPN U |
Saturday | Nov. 30 | 5:00 | at Minnesota | FS North/Wisconsin |
Friday | Jan. 10 | 8:00 | MICHIGAN | Big Ten Network |
Friday | Jan. 24 | 8:00 | OHIO STATE | Big Ten Network |
Friday | Jan. 31 | 5:30 | at Michigan | Big Ten Network |
Thursday | Feb. 6 | 7:30 | MINNESOTA | Big Ten Network |
Friday | Feb. 7 | 8:00 | MINNESOTA | Big Ten Network |
Friday | Feb. 21 | 8:00 | MICHIGAN STATE | Big Ten Network |
Saturday | Feb. 22 | 4:00 | MICHIGAN STATE | ESPN U |
Saturday | Mar. 15 | 3:00 | at Michigan State | FS Detroit/Wisconsin |
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