Penn State University is a large public university located in State College, Pennsylvania. With over 47,000 undergraduate students across multiple campuses, Penn State offers a wide array of academic programs, extracurricular activities, and NCAA Division I athletics. One of the most common questions asked about Penn State athletics is whether or not the university has an ice hockey team. The short answer is yes, Penn State does have a Division I men’s ice hockey team that competes in the Big Ten Conference. However, the full story behind Penn State ice hockey requires more explanation.
History of Penn State Ice Hockey
While Penn State football and basketball have long histories dating back over a century, Penn State men’s ice hockey is a much more recent addition to the athletic department. Here is a brief overview of the history of the Penn State ice hockey program:
Club Era
– Penn State students formed an ice hockey club team back in 1940. For over 70 years, Penn State fielded a men’s hockey team at the ACHA club level rather than as an NCAA varsity sport.
– The club team played home games at the Penn State Ice Pavilion, which opened in 1967. The Ice Pavilion had a capacity of only 1,350 seats.
– Penn State won ACHA D1 national championships in 1990 and 1998 during the club era.
Transition to NCAA
– In 2010, Penn State announced plans to transition the ice hockey program from ACHA club status to an NCAA Division I team.
– This transition was facilitated by a $90 million donation by alumnus Terry Pegula to fund the creation of a varsity hockey program.
– Penn State hired longtime Princeton coach Guy Gadowsky to lead the new DI program.
– The team played its first NCAA season in 2012-2013 as an independent at the D1 level.
Joining Big Ten Hockey
– In 2013, Penn State’s men’s and women’s ice hockey teams were accepted as members of the Big Ten hockey conference.
– The other inaugural Big Ten hockey members included Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.
– Penn State hockey began Big Ten conference play starting in the 2013-2014 season.
Moving to Pegula Ice Arena
– In October 2013, the new Pegula Ice Arena opened on Penn State’s campus.
– With a capacity of 6,014 seats, it gave Penn State a modern D1 hockey facility.
– Both the men’s and women’s teams have played home games at Pegula Ice Arena since its opening.
Penn State Hockey Today
Penn State men’s ice hockey continues to compete as a Division I hockey program in the Big Ten Conference. Here are some key facts about the state of the Penn State hockey team today:
Home Arena
– The Pegula Ice Arena remains the home of the Nittany Lions hockey teams today.
– In addition to varsity games, youth hockey organizations also use Pegula for practices and competitions.
– With dedicated locker rooms, training facilities, and player lounges, Pegula Ice Arena provides a top-tier home for Penn State Hockey.
Coaching Staff
– Guy Gadowsky remains the head coach of Penn State men’s hockey today.
– Assistant coaches include Keith Fisher, Jared DeMichiel, and Adam Nicholas.
– Over his Penn State career, Gadowsky has amassed a 219–144–37 overall record.
Current Roster
– Penn State’s 2022-2023 opening day roster features 27 players.
– 13 forwards, 11 defensemen, and 3 goalies make up the current team.
– The roster includes players from 8 different U.S. states plus Canada, the Czech Republic, and Sweden.
2022-2023 Season
– Penn State men’s hockey is currently ranked #14 in the major national polls.
– The team is 8-5-0 so far this season under Gadowsky.
– Key wins include victories over #7 Ohio State and #2 Minnesota.
– Penn State is looking to make its 6th NCAA tournament appearance.
Penn State Hockey Traditions
Although the program has a short history compared to other Penn State sports, some unique traditions have developed around Nittany Lions ice hockey:
The Roar Zone
– The student section at Pegula Ice Arena is known as the Roar Zone.
– Decked out in white t-shirts, Roar Zone provides loud, boisterous support.
– They lead cheers, crowd chants, and taunt opponents.
– For big games, the Roar Zone often attracts crowds of over 1,500 students.
Zebra Nation
– Zebra Nation is the official booster club for Penn State hockey fans.
– Members get early access to tickets, travel packages, exclusive gear, and more.
– Zebra Nation helps promote the program and provide critical fundraising.
Unrivaled Mascot
– The Nittany Lion mascot attends every Penn State hockey home game.
– He leads cheers, crowd surfs, taunts refs, and pumps up fans.
– Opposing teams have no answer for the antics of the beloved mascot.
Player Introductions
– Player introductions take place right before the puck drops for home games.
– Players take the ice individually and skate around as their names are called.
– Intros build excitement and allow highlighting of individual players.
Success of the Program
While still a relatively new program, Penn State hockey has achieved some significant success markers, including:
Winning Seasons
– In 8 completed seasons of Big Ten hockey so far, Penn State has posted winning records in 5 of them.
– Two seasons saw 20+ win totals (2015–2016 & 2018–2019).
– Last season’s record was an impressive 21-15-2.
NCAA Tournament Appearances
– Penn State has qualified for the NCAA hockey tournament 5 times since joining DI.
– This includes back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018.
– Their best finish came in 2018 when they reached the quarterfinals.
All-Big Ten Selections
– 29 Penn State men’s hockey players have earned All-Big Ten honors.
– Denis Smirnov was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 2017.
– Will Warming captured Big Ten Goaltender of the Year in 2019.
NHL Draft Picks
– 15 Nittany Lions have been selected in the NHL Entry Draft since 2012.
– Recent picks include Aarne Talvitie (6th round) and Oskar Autio (4th round) in 2017.
– Having players drafted helps boost visibility and prestige of the program.
Conclusion
In summary, Penn State does have a Division I men’s ice hockey program that competes at the highest level of college hockey as a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team plays home games at the state-of-the-art Pegula Ice Arena. Though the NCAA hockey program has a short history, Penn State has quickly risen to become a competitive force, qualifying for the national tournament multiple times. Under coach Guy Gadowsky, Penn State hockey looks to continue its success and keep building the young, but already accomplished program. So next time someone asks if Penn State has a hockey team, you can confidently say: Yes, Penn State is proud to field a D1 hockey program that competes alongside the nation’s best!