With Penn State's new ice hockey arena, the Big Ten has announced the first Div I conference with their own NCAA Hockey Playoffs. Six schools are a minimum for a playoff. Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin had played in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) or Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA). They have officially left those leagues but the Big Ten teams will continue to play them non conference schedule.
Penn State received $88 million from the Penn State alumni Terry Pegula the Buffalo Sabres owner to build the Pegula Ice Arena. In addition Pegula gave $14 million for hockey scholarships. Penn State inaugurates the new ice tomorrow night hosting Army.
Nebraska is now considering adding ice hockey. The brand new Pinnacle Bank Arena in Omaha where Nebraska will play basketball was built with a pro size ice floor.
Army, Air Force and U Conn play in the Atlantic Hockey League. U Conn will be moving to the Hockey East League which now includes Boston College and Notre Dame.
The only other hockey colleges of note are the Ivy League teams from Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and Yale which play in the ECAC League.
Pennsylvania is into hockey with the Philadelphia Fliers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Minor league teams are the Allentown Phantoms, Baby Pens, Hershey Bears and the Reading Royals. Johnstown is looking to regain a team. The Paul Newman movie "Slap Shot" was based on the former Johnstown team.
Rutgers has an Ice Hockey Club and would need some Jersey Devils money to move up to NCAA team level.
Paul in PA
Good luck to Pa State.
As long as they don't puck around, they should be okay.
I'll Be Watching On The Big Ten TV Network
At my brother in law's house. He skated for Quinnipiac University against Army, the Ivy League schools and the New York State college leagues.
This gives the Big Ten network a little more to show during the week than old college football games, basketball and wrestling.
Paul in PA
I'll Be Watching On The Big Ten TV Network
For some unknown reason, I get the Big Ten Sports network on my cable sports package here in La. (Charter)
I briefly have watched a few B10 soccer games both men and women. They do need some programming so hockey will be nice feature to supplement the other minor sports like soccer and field hockey etc
Penn State 4-1 Over Army
Penn State, the newest Division I college hockey team, beats Army the oldest college hockey team, in the newest hockey rink in the newest hockey league. What was interesting was to find out that official hockey practice began 6 days ago. Army was only 1 for 9 on power plays and one of the PSU goals was shorthanded.
One of the good things from this new Big Ten League is that Boston College and U Conn will get considerable national TV time in the non league season.
I have a correction regarding my brother in law. When he was at Quinnipiac they only had a hockey club. Before that he played for Hamden High School, one of the top ranked hockey teams in Connecticut. It was in high school that he skated against Army, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
Paul in PA
