| Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey | ||
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| University | Pennsylvania State University | |
| Conference | Independent | |
| Head coach | Guy Gadowsky[1] | |
| 1st year, 0–0–0 | ||
| Arena | Penn State Ice Pavilion Capacity: 1,350 |
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| Location | University Park, Pennsylvania | |
| Colors | Blue and White
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| ACHA Tournament Champions | ||
| 1984, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 | ||
| ACHA Tournament Appearances | ||
| 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | ||
| Conference Tournament Champions | ||
| 1979, 1980, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 | ||
| Conference Regular Season Champions | ||
| 1977, 1978, 1993, 1994, 2008, 2009, 2010 | ||
The Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey, also known as the Penn State Icers, is a college ice hockey program that represents the Penn State University.[2] The Nittany Lions hockey program is currently designated as a varsity club sport and competes at the ACHA Division I level and are currently an independent ACHA DI member for the 2011-12 season before moving to the NCAA DI level. PSU was previously a member of the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL).[3][4][5] They play at the Penn State Ice Pavilion Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania.[6]
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Penn State ice hockey was established in 1939 and from the 1939-40 season through the 1945-46 season the team competed as a NCAA Division I team.[7] The current program traces its roots back to 1971 when the program was restarted at the non-NCAA level.[8] The Penn State Icers have a long tradition at the non-NCAA level.[8] Consensus in the ice hockey community consider Penn State to play on a level comparable to NCAA Division III teams, of which Penn State routinely schedules games.[9][10] The Icers have also played Division I and in-state opponent Robert Morris.[11][12]
The program traces its history to 1971. The program began playing a mix of non-NCAA club teams, NAIA teams and DIII teams.[13] In 1975-76 season Penn State became the first college ice hockey team to play in Europe.[13] The team moved to the on-campus Greenberg Ice Pavilion now known as the Penn State Ice Pavilion in 1980. The 1,350-seat facility has been the home of PSU hockey ever since.[13] Since 1971 the program has won 7 ACHA Nationals Championships, appeared in 28 post season tournaments, won 11 conference playoff tournaments, and recorded 7 conference regular season championships.[13][14]
After years of speculation [15][16] the program will move to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level along with the PSU women's ice hockey team with the completion of a new 6,000-seat ice arena to replace the undersized and aging 1,350-seat Penn State Ice Pavilion[15][17][18] Over the summer of 2010 it was reported that Penn State athletic director Tim Curley and Terrence Pegula, a PSU alumnus,[19] billionaire hockey fan, and possible large donor visited Minnesota’s hockey facilities and the new on-campus Notre Dame Ice Arena currently under construction at Notre Dame and other CCHA schools.[15] Pegula, who would eventually go on to purchase the Buffalo Sabres, donated US$88,000,000 to the Penn State hockey programs for the purpose of building an arena.[20]
In August 2010 Tom Anastos, Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) commissioner said the CCHA was interested in adding Penn State as a 12th member after Nebraska-Omaha left the league to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA).[21] Without a women's league the women's team will not be joining the CCHA, speculation has the Lady Lions joining College Hockey America (CHA), currently a 5-team league with teams in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York.[22] On September 17, 2010 it was officially announced the men's and women's ice hockey programs will move to the NCAA Division I level for the 2012-13 season. The team will compete as independent team until the new arena is completed in 2013.[23] The Big Ten Conference plans to begin sponsoring men's ice hockey in the 2013-14 season combining Penn State with the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and The Ohio State University from the CCHA as well as the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin from the WCHA to form the six-member Big Ten Hockey Conference.[24]
On April 25, 2011 Penn State named Guy Gadowsky as the program's first first varsity men’s hockey coach.[25] Gadowsky was previously the head coach of the Princeton Tigers from 2004-2011 and also served as head coach of the Alaska Nanooks from 1999-2004.[26] He replaces Scott Balboni, who coached the Icers for five seasons from 2006-2011 and compiled a 150-35-8.[27]
record at the ACHA DI level.
| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012– | Guy Gadowsky | 1 | 0–0–0 | .000 |
| Totals | 1 coaches | 0 seasons | 0–0–0 | .000 |
As of completion of 2010–11 season[13]
| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | Guy Gadowsky | 1 | 0–0–0 | .000 |
| 2006–2011 | Scott Balboni | 5 | 150–35–8 | .797 |
| 1987–2006 | Joe Battista | 19 | 499–124–26 | .788 |
| 1981–1987 | Jon Shellington | 6 | 125–71–8 | .632 |
| 1977–1979,1980–1981 | Clayton John | 3 | 54–16–5 | .753 |
| 1979–1980 | Mark Horgas | 1 | 18–5–0 | .783 |
| 1976–1977 | Bob Hettema | 1 | 14–6–1 | .690 |
| 1974–1976 | Morris Kurtz | 2 | 24–6–1 | .790 |
| 1973–1974 | Jim Hodgson | 1 | 8–15–1 | .354 |
| 1972–1973 | multiple | 1 | 10–11–0 | .476 |
| 1971–1972 | Larry Hendry | 1 | 13–6–0 | .684 |
| Totals | 11 coaches | 40 seasons | 915–295–50 | .746 |
As of September 19, 2011.[28]
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| # | State | Player | Catches | Year | Hometown | Previous Team |
| 1 | PJ Musico | L | Freshman | Orange, California | Flin Flon (SJHL) | |
| 29 | Mathew Madrazo | L | Sophomore | Sea Cliff, New York | Kent School | |
| 33 | Tim Carr | L | Freshman | Pine Bush, New York | New Hampshire (EJHL) | |
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| # | State | Player | Shoots | Year | Hometown | Previous Team |
| 2 | Rich O'Brien | R | Junior | Furlong, Pennsylvania | Team Comcast AAA | |
| 3 | Dan Petrick | L | Senior | State College, Pennsylvania | State College | |
| 4 | Daniel Loucks | R | Senior | Collegeville, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia (AJHL) | |
| 5 | Steven Edgeworth | R | Freshman | Phoenix, Arizona | Valley (EJHL) | |
| 6 | Peter Sweetland | R | Freshman | Newtown, Pennsylvania | Green Mountain (EJHL) | |
| 13 | Ryan Seibolt | R | Sophomore | Westlake, Ohio | Texas (NAHL) | |
| 24 | Nate Jensen | R | Sophomore | Shorewood, Minnesota | Mercyhurst (AHA) | |
| 25 | Brian Dolan | L | Sophomore | Havertown, Pennsylvania | Monsignor Bonner | |
| 26 | Brandon Russo | L | Freshman | Fairfield, Connecticut | Indiana Ice (USHL) | |
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| # | State | Player | Shoots | Year | Hometown | Previous Team |
| 7 | Jacob Friedman | R | Freshman | West Bloomfield, Michigan | South Shore Kings (EJHL) | |
| 8 | Michael McDonagh | R | Sophomore | Wilmington, Massachusetts | The Winchendon School | |
| 9 | Bryce Johnson | R | Freshman | Grimes, Iowa | Omaha (USHL) | |
| 10 | Justin Kirchhevel | L | Sophomore | Brookings, South Dakota | Alaska-Anchorage (WCHA) | |
| 11 | Dan Meiselman | L | Freshman | Winnetka, Illinois | Capital District (EJHL) | |
| 12 | Nicolas Seravalli | L | Senior | Ivyland, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia AAA | |
| 14 | Tommy Olczyk | L | Freshman | Long Grove, Illinois | Sioux City (USHL) | |
| 15 | Kurt Collins | L | Senior | Port Matilda, Pennsylvania | Philadelphia (AJHL) | |
| 16 | Michael Longo | L | Junior | Allison Park, Pennsylvania | Youngstown AAA | |
| 17 | Dell Forrest | R | Freshman | Evergreen, Colorado | New York (EJHL) | |
| 18 | Christopher Cerutti | R | Senior | Export, Pennsylvania | Bay State (EJHL) | |
| 19 | Dominic Morrone | R | Junior | Sewell, New Jersey | Boston (EJHL) | |
| 20 | Josh Daley | R | Freshman | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Waywayseecappo (MJHL) | |
| 21 | Eric Steinour | L | Junior | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Boston (AJHL) | |
| 22 | George Saad | R | Junior | Gibsonia, Pennsylvania | Mahoning Valley (NAHL) | |
| 23 | Tim Acker | R | Freshman | Apex, North Carolina | Westminster School | |
| 27 | Paul Daley | L | Senior | Toms River, New Jersey | New Jersey (AJHL) | |
| 28 | Taylor Holstrom | R | Sophomore | Yorba Linda, California | Mercyhurst (AHA) | |
Penn State has had a number of alumni advance to professional careers.[29]