Big Ten Hockey is a collegiate ice hockey conference part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level, primarily consisting of universities from the Big Ten Conference. It was founded following the realignment of hockey conferences in 2011-2013. The owner of Big Ten Hockey is essentially the Big Ten Conference, a union of 14 major research universities in the United States. Big Ten Hockey operates primarily in the Midwest and Northeast regions of the United States, encompassing universities from states like Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The conference is known for its competitive teams and has become a significant part of college hockey in the U.S.