Penn State hockey to face Army in inaugural Capital Hockey Classic
The first Penn State men’s hockey game date of the season is out. And, fitting, the announcement comes courtesy of a first-time event. Head coach Guy Gadowsky’s team will face Army in the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic. The contest, which does not yet have a start time, will come after the club teams from Army and Navy face off inside of Capital One Arena on Thur, Dec. 12. The Lions will play the Black Knight’s Divison-I team, of course. Information related to specific game times, ticket prices, and other details will be released later this year at capitalonearena.com, and Monumental Sports & Entertainment is running the event. Both hocey contests come just days before the annual Army-Navy football game. That is set for Sat., Dec. 14 at Commanders Field.
“We are ecstatic to be able to welcome college hockey back to Capital One Arena,” Jim Stone, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at MSE, said in a news release. “It is an honor to host this college hockey showcase ahead of the iconic Army-Navy football game, giving fans a chance to witness this storied rivalry on the ice and then see two top Division I teams match up against each other. The military is an integral part of our community in the Washington, D.C. area and Monumental Sports & Entertainment has a long history of harnessing the power of sports to make a lasting difference in the lives of those who serve our country.”
The Penn State men’s hockey team hosted Army inside of Pegula Ice Arena last January. The Nittany Lions trailed 6-4 after two periods. But, they scored three unanswered goals in the third to win 6-4. Gadowsky’s club is amid a four-game winning streak against the Black Knights.
Penn State, Army coaches offer statements on the Capital Hockey Clasic
“It’s truly an honor to be a part of the first-ever Capital Hockey Classic,” Gadowsky said in a released statement. “The Army-Navy football game is a yearly spectacle and to add a hockey component to this special weekend is an awesome opportunity. I’m excited we will be able to spread our Hockey Valley community to the DMV area, an area we haven’t been to yet in our short history, but one with a large alumni base. We know there will be a lot of Blue & White support in D.C.! We Are!”
Added Army coach Brian Riley:
“We are excited to have the opportunity to play in the Capital Hockey Classic against Penn State. We know that there are a lot of alumni and Army fans in that area so it will be a great opportunity to bring the Army Hockey Team to an area where we’ve never played. There will be a lot of energy with the Army-Navy Football Game on Saturday and this will be a great way to start the weekend with Army vs. Penn State on the ice.”
Penn State men’s hockey enters the 2024-2025 season after going 15-18-3 in 2023-2024. That did include a trip to the Big Ten Tournament. But, the Nittany Lions were swept out of the first round by Minnesota.
