It’s easy to get caught up in the countdown to kickoff, but we are two months away until the college hockey season returns to State College as well. And there is a certain feel about the Penn State men’s hockey team after a trip to the Big Ten semifinals a year after having a Big Ten championship shot on home ice wiped out due to COVID.
As the season begins to approach, Penn State has confirmed its non-conference schedule, and it includes a very notable opponent. The Nittany Lions will take on a college hockey powerhouse in North Dakota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is scheduled for Saturday, October 30.
North Dakota is a eight-time national champion, including their most recent title in 2016. The Fighting Hawks are coming off a season in which they went 16-4-2 and a second-striaght first-place finish in the NCHC. North Dakota was eliminated in the NCAA tournament by Minnesota-Duluth in the regional final in an epic five-overtime marathon. For as much as Penn State has quickly grown as a hockey program, getting a chance to go face-to-face with one of the sport’s top-tier programs is a great opportunity.
The home schedule in non-conferenc replay will include games against Canisius, Long Island, Maine, and Niagara. Penn State will play a road game at St. Thomas as well.
Penn State will take on Canisius, Long Island, Maine, and Niagara at Pegula Ice Arena, they will travel to St. Thomas.
📂 Penn State Men’s Hockey
l_ 📂 2021-22 Schedule
l_ 📂 Non-conference Opponents#WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/yISk5fcWRO— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) August 12, 2021
The rest of the regular season schedule will be released at a later date once the Big Ten confirms its schedule.
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