Penn State starting a Division I hockey program
September 17, 2010
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)—Major college hockey is coming to Penn State.
Ending years of rumors and speculation, university leaders at a trusteesmeeting formally announced Friday the establishment of Division I men’s andwomen’s ice hockey programs to begin play in the 2012-13 season.
Happy Valley hockey fans can thank Terry and Kim Pegula after the coupledonated $88 million—the largest private gift in Penn State history—to fund anew multipurpose arena to be built near the Jordan Center and help establish themen’s program.
Pegula is the founder and former president of the energy company EastResources, Inc., a major player in the natural gas-rich Marcellus Shaleformation sold to Royal Dutch Shell PLC for $4.7 billion earlier this year.
“So maybe some day in these hills of Pennsylvania, we’re going to find aPennsylvania (Sidney) Crosby,” Pegula said at the trustees meeting inannouncing his donation, referring to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ star.“Hopefully, he’ll play hockey for Penn State, and I think that’s awesome.”
Penn State has had a club hockey team, the Icers, since 1971. The team playsat the campus’ 1,500-seat Ice Pavilion and is considered one of the top clubteams in the country. The Icers have won seven American Collegiate HockeyAssociation national titles.
The school also had a men’s varsity team from 1939-1946. Penn State has hada women’s club hockey team, the Lady Icers, since 1996-97.
“This is the fulfillment of a dream for many that have been longtimeadvocates and supporters of Penn State hockey,” athletic director Tim Curleysaid in a statement. “As with all of our programs, we will expect both themen’s and women’s teams to compete for championships and achieve at a highlevel.”
Five other Big Ten schools play Division I hockey, but there is no Big Tenhockey league.
Minnesota and Wisconsin play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association,and Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are in the Central Collegiate HockeyAssociation.
The addition of men’s and women’s ice hockey will increase the number ofsports at Penn State to 31, one of the largest athletic programs in the countryamong BCS schools.
The new hockey home is to be built just west of the Jordan Center, home tothe university’s basketball teams. The arena will include two ice sheets, anduniversity leaders hope to attract NHL and minor-league exhibition hockey games.
President Graham Spanier was optimistic the new arena would become ayear-round engine for economic development in the region when it opens inDecember 2013.
It’s more good news for Pennsylvania college hockey fans with the statealready hosting back-to-back NCAA Frozen Fours at mid-decade. The Division Imen’s hockey championships will be played in Pittsburgh in 2013 and Philadelphiain 2014.
Source: Penn St to start D-I ice hockey program
September 16, 2010
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP)—Division I hockey will soon be skating into HappyValley.
A Penn State official familiar with the plan said Thursday the universitywill start a Division I ice hockey program. The person spoke to The AssociatedPress on condition of anonymity because an official announcement is expectedFriday.
The university has scheduled a press conference after a trustees meetingFriday to make a “significant gift and facility announcement,” with schoolpresident Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley expected to attend.
Penn State has had a club hockey team called the Icers since 1971. The Icersare considered one of the top club programs in the country.
Five other Big Ten schools play Division I hockey, but there is no Big Tenhockey league.
Minnesota and Wisconsin play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association,and Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are in the Central Collegiate HockeyAssociation.
The Altoona Mirror last month, citing an anonymous source close to thesituation, reported that Penn State was on the verge of building a new hockeyarena and adding Division I hockey.
The current Penn State club hockey team plays at the Penn State IcePavilion, which seats about 1,500. Penn State had a varsity team from 1939-1946,then a club team starting in 1971.
Penn State also has had a women’s club hockey team, the Lady Icers, since1996-97.
