The Penn State men's hockey team will take part in a unique college hockey event in December as the Nittany Lions take on Army as part of the Capital Hockey Classic, a doubleheader, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The event will be the undercard to the annual Army vs. Navy football game on Dec. 14 at Commander's Field.
The Capital Hockey Classic is scheduled for Dec. 12. The opening game will feature the Army and Navy club teams facing off, followed by Penn State and Army in Division I action. Penn State rallied from a four-point deficit to beat Army, 7-6, at Pegula Ice Arena last season.
“We are truly honored to be a part of the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic,” Penn State men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky said in a statement. “The Army-Navy football game is an annual highlight, and adding a hockey component to this special weekend is a fantastic opportunity. We are excited to extend the Hockey Valley community to the DMV region, an area we have yet to visit in our short history, but where our alumni base is large.”
The event is produced by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Capitals and Capital One Arena, the site of the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four.
“We are excited to welcome college hockey back to Capital One Arena,” Jim Van Stone, MSE's president of business operations and chief commercial officer, said in a statement.
“We are honored to host this college hockey showcase prior to the iconic Army-Navy football game, giving fans the opportunity to witness this legendary rivalry on the ice and then watch the top two teams in Division I go head-to-head.”
The Penn State men's hockey team will enter its 13th season as a varsity team in 2024. The Nittany Lions went 15-18-3 last season, losing to Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. Penn State has won the Big Ten Tournament twice and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times, most recently in 2023. The team won its 200th win last season and has recorded 20 or more wins in five of the past nine years.
Capital Hockey Classic game times and tickets are available at Capital One Arena WebsitePennsylvania State University recently Season Ticket Information In preparation for the 2024-25 season starting in October.
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