Notre Dame Joins the Big Ten, Sort of…

For those sports fans that have wanted to have the University of Notre Dame join the Big Ten Conference, you could be happy with this move.

According the United States College Hockey Organization, sources say that the Fighting Irish will be leaving the Hockey East Association after the 2016-2017 season to join the Big Ten Conference. The Irish completed their third season in Hockey East after the Central Collegiate Hockey Conference dissolved after the 2012-2013 season.

Notre Dame has found some success in Hockey East, finishing in third this season (their highest finish since joining) and making it to the NCAA tournament for the second time since joining the association. They open the tournament Friday at 5:30pm in Cincinnati as they take on the lone Big Ten qualifier, the Michigan Wolverines.

With the addition of Notre Dame, the Big Ten would expand to seven teams - joining Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State and Ohio State.