Penn State men’s hockey released its out of conference schedule on Thursday morning and will host four out of conference opponents this season while traveling for two more contests on the road.
Dates and times are set to be announced in the coming weeks but the Nittany Lions will host Canisius, Long Island University, Maine and Niagara this season while traveling to Nashville for a previously announced meeting against North Dakota as well as to Minnesota for a clash with newly minted Division I program St. Thomas University.
Long Island and St. Thomas are the two newest Division I men’s hockey programs while North Dakota is perhaps the highest profile out of conference meeting the Nittany Lions have faced in the regular season. The Fighting Hawks most recently won the national title in 2016.
Elsewhere, a road meeting against St. Thomas comes with a Penn State connection, the Nittany Lions traveling to take on the home of former Penn State athletic’s administrator Phil Esten who was named St. Thomas’ Director of Athletics in 2018. St. Thomas made the jump to Division I earlier this year. Esten would bring at least one more former staffer with him in the move.
LIU added a men’s hockey program last April and if nothing else has maybe the best logo in the sport.
Penn State out of conference opponents:
- Canisius
- Long Island University
- Maine
- Niagara
- North Dakota
- St Thomas
