Penn State to play Division I hockey [Read article]
That could create a domino effect for college hockey throughout the Midwest.I guess I didn’t realize that the WCHA was interested in adding Penn State to the mix?
Both the CCHA and WCHA have expressed interest in adding Penn State.
"They are a very attractive choice -- very attractive," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said earlier this month, according to the Detroit News. "They're in a different market than we're in, more and more U.S. players are on college rosters, and there's tremendous growth of the sport in Pennsylvania."
The addition of men's and women's ice hockey will increase the number of sports at Penn State to 31, one of the largest athletic programs in the country among BCS schools.
Curley said the new hockey facility is scheduled to be built by spring 2014, just west of the Jordan Center, home to the university's basketball teams. The arena will include two ice sheets, and university leaders hope to attract NHL and minor-league exhibition hockey games.
It’s Officially Official: Penn State Hockey Goes D-1 [Read article]
The new, state of the art. $75 million arena, is expected to be completed by 2013 and funded exclusively by private donations.
It will include two ice sheets and other features that will allow it to be used for a broad range of campus and community activities, from commencement ceremonies to kinesiology classes to public skating sessions and camps for youth. The facility will provide new training and performance opportunities for Penn State’s popular and successful figure skating club and for the University’s women’s ice hockey team. It also will offer ice time to recreational and high school hockey programs, as well as intramural and local speed skating and broomball clubs. The state-of-the-art arena will be able to host events such as professional ice shows and National Hockey League and American Hockey League exhibition games, generating tourism and other economic impacts in the region.
Penn State starting NCAA hockey program[Read article]
Penn State hockey fans can thank Terry and Kim Pegula, who donated US$88 million — the largest private gift in Penn State history — to fund a new multi-purpose arena and help upgrade the men's program. The athletic department will fund, or seek other private donations, for the women's program.Players like Sidney Crosby don't grow on trees and the Penn State University will have to establish a recruiting a niche and it’s going to be harder than it looks. There are some good programs already pounding the turf to compete for top recruits.
"So maybe someday in these hills of Pennsylvania, we're going to find a Pennsylvania (Sidney) Crosby," Terry Pegula said at a trustees meeting Friday morning, referring to the Pittsburgh Penguins' star. "Hopefully, he'll play hockey for Penn State, and I think that's awesome."
Penn State's addition leads to Big Ten hockey speculation [Read article]
CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos issued a statement on behalf of his membership, welcoming Penn State into "the college hockey family" and saying the league will support the Nittany Lions' transition to Division I over the next few seasons.
Anastos did not mention speculation about what league Penn State might join but did say the CCHA will continue to exist for a long time.
"The CCHA's formation 40 years ago was based on the development of emerging programs and, as we set our sights on our next 40 years, we look forward to working with programs such as Penn State and, hopefully, others, in providing leadership that will increase the profile of college hockey and foster continued growth."
College hockey: Penn State to add Division I team [Read Article]
Five other Big Ten schools play Division I hockey, but there is no Big Ten hockey league.Leave it to the WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod to offer steady leadership with his inspiring and witty comments. I am not so sure McLeod is the best person to lead the WCHA through this transition (if there is one).
Minnesota and Wisconsin play in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"We're all well aware of the ramifications ... of having a sixth Big Ten hockey school, and what that means for a lot of us," WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod told insidecollegehockey.com, which reported Penn State's plans.
Penn State University will add varsity men's and women's hockey starting in 2012 [Read Article]
The Straight Edge: Penn State Div I program strengthens NCAA landscape [Read Article]
The nuts and bolts are still being worked out, but the Nittany Lions will likely begin their Division I life as an independent before joining up with a power conference. Geographically, the CCHA makes the most sense, but the major rumblings involved in this story is how a Big Ten Conference – featuring Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin and Minnesota – could now be formed. The Big Ten cable TV network is a huge cash cow and Big Ten hockey would bolster the schedule.
“The biggest thing any network wants is inventory,” said one insider. “College basketball usually runs Thursday and Saturday, so Friday nights are open. And Penn State comes in with half a million living alumni.”
That’s a lot of potential hockey fans tuning in, especially when the fans already have a hate-on for the Ohio States and Michigans thanks to football and basketball rivalries.
There has, of course, been worry about what taking the five best teams from the CCHA and WCHA would do to the college hockey landscape, but I think adding a conference will help. As it is now, Alabama-Huntsville is looking for a home and Bemidji State jumped through hoops to get into the WCHA. And with RIT’s miracle run to the Frozen Four (with Bemidji State preceding them the year prior), it’s obvious smaller schools can have an impact when given the chance. Kelly agrees with that sentiment.
“I think they’ll come together,” he said. “College coaches don’t want to see the loss of programs.”
Wherever the Nittany Lions end up, they’ll likely get knocked around the first year or so, but progress won’t take long.
“They’re going to have a natural flow of highly-skilled players into their program,” Kelly said. “Penn State will have an immediate crop of kids who want to play there.
Penn State To Add Division 1 Hockey [Read Article]
Penn State to add varsity hockey – Minneapolis Star Tribune
Penn State To Add Men's, Women's Hockey - [Read Article]
Penn State's hockey program jumps to Division 1-A, could lead to Big Ten hockey conference [Read Article]
Michigan coach Red Berenson said Friday afternoon that although Penn State's financial commitment to hockey is a "huge step in the right direction for any more future growth in college hockey" having the Nittany Lions join one conference over another doesn't make a difference to him.A voice of calm from the Michigan head coach. I have to say Red that I agree.
Berenson expects a lot of speculation to take place over the next four years, but he doesn't think the answer is breaking up existing leagues with long-standing traditions.
"I don't think teams are anxious to leave their own conference and abandon them and start a new conference," Berenson said. "I don't think anyone wants to see a league take a hit.
