Sunday was another great day for PSU Hockey! This time, at the NHL draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Two draft picks, freshman Goalie Eamon McAdam and freshman defenseman Mike Williamson, gives Penn State four NHL draft picks on the roster entering just it’s second season of NCAA play. Not quite the 14-16 draft picks that Minnesota and Wisconsin have but we are getting there!
Head Coach Guy Gadowsky and his Assistant Coaches Keith Fisher and Matt Lindsay have done a remarkable job in just two short years. While I certainly can’t guarantee anything, I think there is a pretty good chance that this is just the beginning of what will become a regular part of the scene in “Hockey Valley” … seeing future NHL draft picks!
It was also a great day for Penn State alumnus and owner of the Buffalo Sabres, Terry Pegula, as well. The team had 11 picks including J.T. Compher who played against Penn State at the Greenberg Ice Rink last year as a member of the US National Development Team.
As I surveyed the packed Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils, I quickly realized that anyone who is anyone in the world of hockey was in the building. Owners, general manager’s, current coaches, ex-coaches, coaches-in-waiting, agents, more agents, media, and fans from all over the world. You could hear conversations in just about any language from Russian, to Swedish, to German, and especially Canadian (eh?)!
Craig Patrick, Senior Advisor to Hockey Operations with the Columbus Blue Jackets, was also in the building. You may remember him as the assistant coach of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team or the GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins during their Stanley Cup seasons.
I know Craig best as the father of two Penn State Icer alums C.J. and Ryan. Ryan was recently named the Director of Hockey for the Pegula Ice Arena continuing the Patrick family relationship with Penn State that also included his cousin Curtiss.
Sitting in the Buffalo Sabres suite with the Pegula family during the draft, I looked to my left and found another familiar Penn State person (all 6’5 of him!). Jason Rademan, Director of Team Services for the Dallas Stars and a PSU alumnus, was in the Stars suite just a few rooms over. It was a chance to reconnect with another Nittany Lion who has found his way into the hockey world.
Jason was in great spirits and beaming about the progress of Pegula Ice Arena and the early success of the hockey program. He expressed his disappointment at not being able to attend the home opener at Pegula Ice Arena on October 11 as he will be on the road with the Stars. But he, like many, are planning to get to the new building as soon as possible!
The men’s non-conference schedule was announced last week and it is full of teams that have not only appeared in the NCAA tournament, but the Frozen Four as well. Penn State fans will immediately recognize the Boston College Eagles on the schedule. Arguably the most successful college hockey program of the past decade with 3 NCAA titles, the Eagles will journey to Penn State on January 25, 2014.
The schedule gives a glimpse of the excitement that will be coming to “Hockey Valley”.
Rumors have been circulating that tickets are “sold out” for the inaugural season in the 6,000 seat, $90 million Pegula Ice Arena. That’s not quite accurate as 1,025 student tickets won’t go on sale until September. While there over 4,100 seat deposits out of the 4,800 non-student seats, season tickets do remain.
But don’t wait to get your deposit in and don’t take a chance of missing out on seeing the future prospective NHL players who will don the blue and white.
By the way, next year the NHL draft will be held in Philadelphia so Pennsylvania will be back in the hockey spotlight once again.
Two months until the new arena opens and three months until Penn State hockey makes it’s debut in the magnificent new Pegula Ice Arena!
