Penn State hockey will face some of the best teams in the nation on home ice this season, the Nittany Lions’ 2013 schedule for the inaugural campaign at Pegula Ice Arena was released earlier Thursday afternoon. The schedule features 19 games against teams that have made the Frozen Four since 2009 including Boston College, Union and UMass Lowell.
2013 Frozen Four participant UMass Lowell on Nov. 14 and 15 will make the trip to Happy Valley during a challenging month of November. Five-time national champion Boston College will visit Pegula Ice Arena on January 25 and 2010 Frozen Four participant RIT will face Penn State on Oct. 25.
New York based Union and 2012 national semifinalist will take on the Nittany Lions as part of a two game series on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
“We’ve put together a challenging non-conference schedule with several marquee games. Together with a competitive Big Ten slate and trips to both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, our fans will have the opportunity to watch some outstanding hockey whether at Pegula Ice Arena or on the road,” said head coach Guy Gadowsky. “It will be an exciting season as we enter our first year in the Big Ten Conference in a brand-new facility.”
The 2013 season will also mark the first year of Big Ten hockey conference play. Penn State will travel to Wisconsin to open conference play for a two game series starting Dec 6. The Nittany Lions ended last season with a 3-2 overtime victory against the No. 16 ranked Badgers.
Penn State will make a few stops around the state as well, traveling to the Wells Fargo Center again for the Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff against Vermont. The Nittany Lions will later make the trip west for the Three Rivers Classic at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. The two day event will feature Penn State, Boston College, Bowling Green, and Robert Morris.
The new $90-million Pegula Ice Arena will open on Oct. 11 against Army during a packed and eventful Homecoming weekend.
The full schedule can be read below.
