Five highlights in the Gophers men's hockey 2017-2018 schedule

The Gophers men's hockey schedule will take on a new look in 2017-2018.

Conference play begins the second weekend of the season, the Gophers-North Dakota rivalry returns to Grand Forks, and the Mariucci Classic will go on hiatus.

The Big Ten and the Gophers announced their 2017-2018 schedules Thursday with the addition of Notre Dame to the lineup. Here are five highlights you can look forward to in the Gophers' schedule:

-- The Gophers return to Grand Forks for the first time since 2012. North Dakota hosts the Gophers Oct. 20 and 21 at Ralph Engelstad Arena continuing the rivalry that resumed last season after a four-year break result of major conference realignment. The Gophers overcame four deficits to force a 5-5 tie in last season' series opener and shut out North Dakota 2-0 in Game 2. The Gophers also beat North Dakota in the 2014 Frozen Four semifinals. North Dakota will be eager for revenge in front of a sold out home crowd.

-- The Mariucci Classic will go on hiatus after 26 years of competition. A team spokesman said scheduling conflicts kept the Gophers from locking in a four-team field for the tournament. The event is expected to return next season. The Gophers have won 14 Mariucci Classic titles. Instead, the Gophers will host Army for a two-game series Dec. 29 and 30. The North Star College Cup featuring Minnesota's college hockey Division 1 programs folded after last year's event, meaning the Gophers will play in only one regular-season tournament in 2017-2018.

-- The Gophers kick off the season in Duluth at the Ice Breaker Tournament. The field includes four of last season's 16 NCAA tournament qualifiers, highlighted by national runner-up Minnesota Duluth. The Gophers face off against the in-state rival in the first round of the tournament Oct. 6. Union and Michigan Tech meet in the other first-round game with the winners advancing to Saturday's championship game. The losers play in a consolation matchup that should be just as competitive as the title game.

-- The addition of a seventh Big Ten member adds four games to the Gophers' schedule and bumps the start of conference play to the second weekend of the season. The Gophers host Penn State for their home opener Oct. 13 and 14 and then close out Big Ten play more than four months later at Penn State on Feb. 23 and 24. In past seasons, a six-team conference and 20-game schedule meant Big Ten play often wouldn't start until December with most games played after the New Year. The highlight of the conference schedule is arguably Jan. 20 against Michigan State. The two teams will close out the weekend series at Madison Square Garden as part of Big Ten Super Saturday highlighting Minnesota sports. The Gophers men's basketball team faces off against Ohio State at Madison Square Garden in the afternoon and will be followed by college hockey later that night.

-- Notre Dame and the Gophers kick off their conference rivalry Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 24-25. These programs could develop a compelling rivalry with the Fighting Irish often landing some of Minnesota's top recruits. Last year's Notre Dame roster included seven Minnesotans. Also, Gophers coach Don Lucia is a Notre Dame alum and the Fighting Irish beat the Gophers in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season. The Gophers have only one series against in-state rivals (St. Cloud State on Jan 6-7) this season.

The Big Ten tournament will be played at the higher seed's home area, ending the neutral-ice format played at Xcel Energy Center and Joe Louis Arena the past four years.