Predicting the Minnesota Gophers Nonconference Hockey Schedule

The University of Minnesota men’s hockey team has not yet officially released its nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season. However, several matchups have been confirmed through the schedule announcements of opposing programs.

The Gophers are scheduled to open their season on the road, traveling to Houghton, Michigan, to face Michigan Tech on October 2 and 3, 2026. This follows a meeting between the two teams during the 2025-26 season opener, which marked the first time the programs had faced each other since 2011.

Michigan Tech enters the 2026-27 season under head coach Bill Muckalt, who led the Huskies to a 23-13-3 record during the 2025-26 season.

Following the opening series, Minnesota will travel to Duluth for a matchup against Minnesota Duluth on October 16 and 17, 2026. This series will see Gophers head coach Brett Larson face his alma mater.

Minnesota Duluth is expected to be a top contender in the 2026-27 season, led by Max Plante, a returning Hobey Baker Award winner. The Bulldogs previously swept the Gophers in Minneapolis during the 2025-26 season with a combined score of 7-1.

The Gophers will return home for a series against North Dakota on October 22 and 23, 2026. This Thursday and Friday series coincides with the university’s Homecoming week and precedes a football game against Iowa on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

This will be the first meeting between Minnesota and North Dakota since 2022. North Dakota is projected to remain a top-tier team in 2026-27 following a successful first year under head coach Dane Jackson.

The nonconference slate is expected to conclude with a home-and-home series against Minnesota State on November 27 and 28, 2026.

The in-state rivalry between the Gophers and the Mavericks has not been contested since 2022, which also featured a home-and-home format. Minnesota State is led by head coach Luke Strand, who has secured consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament.