Men's Jersey Countdown: #14 Tommy Olczyk

Junior - Forward - 5'10" - 185 pounds - Long Grove, IL

Second-year captain Tommy Olczyk, not too long ago, was best known to Penn Staters as "dynamic scorer for the Icers" and "guy who gets PSU hockey shoutouts on NBC thanks to his analyst dad." He's become much more than that to us. Hard working on the ice, well spoken off of it. A leader who is always accountable, win or lose. Fantastic academically. In other words, just about the closest thing you'll ever find to "model student-athlete" in real life. While astute observers knew that his impressive scoring production in the ACHA as a freshman (52 points in 31 games, including a couple of highly-memorable performances against Oklahoma) wouldn't carry over to the NCAA level, other important traits have. Olczyk's excellence as a penalty killer was apparent to all from the beginning, and he popped home one of the Nittany Lions' three shorthanded goals in 2012-13, on January 25th against Michigan State. The weekend before that, he assisted on Justin Kirchhevel's eventual game-winning goal against Vermont at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.

Career Statistics (2011-12 with ACHA Icers):
Season	GP	G	A	Pts.	PIM	PP	SH	GW	GT
2011-12	31	24	28	52	26	4	1	4	-
2012-13	26	3	1	4	2	0	1	1	0
ACHA Career	31	24	28	52	26	4	1	4	-
NCAA Career	26	3	1	4	2	0	1	1	0

Women's Ticket Information Released

Jess Desorcie and the Nittany Lions play their first Pegula Ice Arena game October 18th vs. Union

Late Thursday afternoon, Penn State announced ticketing details for the women's team's first season at Pegula Ice Arena.

The major details aren't particularly startling, as they've been floating around since being published in a PIA ticket brochure last season: season tickets will cost $50 for all 17 regular season home games, while individual general admission tickets are $5. Penn State students will be admitted free of charge with a valid ID card.

While some might bemoan the fact that women's games now cost money after being entirely free last season in the Ice Pavilion, I support the move not only for the mild revenue bump but for the symbolism. Women's hockey games are something of value, and charging admission for them reinforces that idea.

Interestingly, while tickets will be general admission, seat selection will be limited to the side of the arena containing the team benches. Penn State averaged 238 fans per game last year, so forcing attendees to cluster in one area rather than spread all over the cavernous PIA lower bowl should help the game atmosphere and home ice advantage. Behind the scenes, it will allow staff to cut costs by shutting down services in half of the arena.

Tickets go on sale October 2nd, which is next Wednesday. The entire release follows.

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With just three weeks to the first game at Pegula Ice Arena, Penn State women's hockey announced its season and individual ticket packages on Thursday, which will go on sale Oct. 2. Season tickets start at just $50 for all 17 games, while individual tickets are $5 for general admission. Penn State students are free to all games with valid ID.

Tickets to women's hockey games gain you entrance to the arena and seating will be done on a first-come, first-serve basis on the team bench side of the arena. Ticket purchases can be made over the phone (814-865-5555) or by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.).

The Penn State women open Pegula Ice Arena against Union (Oct. 18-19) a week following the men vs. Army (Oct. 11). The Nittany Lions host eight straight contests in October and November to christen the building. In all seven non-conference matchups dot the home calendar including visits from New Hampshire (Oct. 26-27), Maine (Nov. 30) and Colgate (Jan. 10-11).

The Nittany Lions host a slate of 10 home games against College Hockey America foes highlighted by a pair of contests against preseason No. 7 Mercyhurst (Feb. 15-16). Also visiting Pegula for the first time will be Robert Morris (Oct. 31-Nov. 1), Syracuse (Nov. 9-10), RIT (Jan. 31-Feb 1) and Lindenwood (Feb. 8-9).

Penn State moved into $90 million Pegula Ice Arena on Sept. 9 and full team practice began Sept. 21. The Nittany Lions open the 2013-14 season on the road with games at Vermont (Oct. 4-5) and Quinnipiac (Oct. 11-12). The Nittany Lions return 24 letter winners, 98.6 percent of their scoring and all three goaltenders.

PSU Hosts Pegula Ice Arena Media Day

Penn State held a Pegula Ice Arena media day on Wednesday, consisting of a press conference with hockey czar Joe Battista followed by a tour of the $90 million facility that opened to the public earlier this month.

First, just to get it out of the way, it seems apparent that the event was designed mostly to generate a PIA wow factor for the assembled media, and by extension, the public. Still, before we get to the photos and videos that tend to be the quickest route to "wow," Battista's presser offered several bits of news - some mundane, some you already know, but hey, that's what we do around here.

• The Greenberg Ice Pavilion's fate has still not been finalized, but Battista said that it will likely be converted into a strength and conditioning area for athletic teams or a recreational facility for students. The ice removal process got underway this week.
• One of the Zambonis at Pegula Ice Arena is electricity powered. Sort of a striking bit of environmental consciousness considering that the facility was funded by a guy who became a billionaire through hydrofracking.
• There will be a team merchandise store in the arena.
• Fundraising is proceeding well - Battista is still short of his initial target, but 22 of the 36 men's and women's scholarships are fully endowed, and self-sufficiency across the two programs remains the ultimate goal.
• A pep band will take up 40 seats in the student section.
• Battista would like PIA to host an NHL rookie tournament, similar to ones held in places like Traverse City, MI, Penticton, BC and London, ON that pit prospects from several different organizations against each other. The arena's size likely makes it too small for a full-fledged NHL exhibition game, but most other preseason activities are on the table.
• Commencements, volleyball camps and other non-ice events are also possibilities during the month and a half (May through mid-June) per year when the ice will be removed from the main rink.
• For men's games, all 14 suites, 98 loge seats and 525 club seats are sold out, and only about 200 seats per game plus standing room spots will be up for grabs in the still-to-be-announced single-ticket sale.
• Speaking of, the listed seating capacity of the arena is 5,782, just a bit shy of the generally-used 6,000. However, the Centre Daily Times reports that there will be a total capacity of 6,014 thanks to 233 people worth of standing room. You don't have to be John Urschel to figure out that one of those figures is off by one, but close enough I suppose.
• Pegula Ice Arena has a goal horn.

And of course, there's the...

• ...potential Beaver Stadium game(s). Battista confirmed that there have been discussions and that the intent is to involve both Penn State and the NHL, but stressed that things are in the very preliminary stages. There's literally nothing new about any of that, but hey, you know the media.

From here, let's break into some links to content generated by those invited. Since most of this stuff falls into very obvious categories, I'll group everything that way.

Press Conference

Joe Battista transcript [PDF]

Video Arena Tours

 

Note: The WTAJ tour is actually a news report and also includes clips of the Battista press conference.

Centre Daily Times // StateCollege.com // WTAJ

GoPSUSports.com (conducted by P.J. Musico)

 

Photo Galleries

Note: The PennLive and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review galleries are attached to news stories, but ones that essentially just re-package Battista's quotes. Since you have the transcript of those, I figured the photos were the real draw in those cases.

Centre Daily Times // Blue White Illustrated // Sporting News

PennLive // Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

General Features

New Pegula Arena polished and ready to go
(Centre Daily Times)

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/09/26/3807653/penn-state-ice-hockey-new-pegula.html#storylink=cpy

 

Pegula Ice Arena a dream come true for Battista

(The Daily Collegian)

 

Equipment Manager settles into Pegula

(The Daily Collegian)

Pegula Ice Arena Media Day - Sights and Sounds

(GoPSUSports.com)

 

OMG OUTDOOR GAME!!11!!!

 

Joe Battista talks Penn State hockey and Winter Classic plus more

(The Daily Collegian)

 

A hockey game at Beaver Stadium? Seems like only a matter of time

(PennLive)

 

PSU official 'very confident' about outdoor NHL game at Beaver Stadium

(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Outdoor Game at Beaver Stadium?
(WTAJ)

Men's Jersey Countdown: #15 Curtis Loik

Sophomore - Forward - 6'1" - 205 pounds - North Vancouver, BC

One of the leading reasons for Penn State's surprising amount of success in 2012-13 was the unexpected production from the Curtis Loik - David Glen - Kenny Brooks line, with Loik excelling as a grinder next to finisher Glen and playmaker Brooks (though it should be said that all three possess off-the-charts compete levels). Loik's +7 rating was second best on the team, and he was also an effective part of the Nittany Lions' stout penalty kill unit, a role that included an assist on Tommy Olczyk's shorthanded goal against Michigan State on January 25th. While Loik's point totals aren't eye popping, he tends to score in big situations, including in wins over RIT on October 20, 2012 and Ohio State on December 29, 2012. Prior to coming to PSU, he was an important member of one of the best Junior A teams in history, the 2011-12 Penticton Vees. After Loik put up 37 points during a 54-4-2 regular season that included a record 42-game winning streak, the Vees went on to win the RBC Cup (Canadian Junior A national championship) as well as the Fred Page Cup (BCHL playoff title) and the Doyle Cup (Pacific championship) on the way to immortality.

Career Statistics:
Season	GP	G	A	Pts.	PIM	PP	SH	GW	GT
2012-13	25	5	4	9	16	0	0	0	0
NCAA Career	25	5	4	9	16	0	0	0	0

Women's Jersey Countdown: #9 Amy Petersen

Freshman - Forward - 5'4" - Minnetonka, MN

If Penn State wins a CHA title (or more) in the next four years, it's a pretty good bet that Amy Petersen will score a huge game-winning goal on the way. And for a change, new teammates Sarah Nielsen and Paige Jahnke, as well as future teammate Christi Vetter, will be happy about it. In 2011, the Minnetonka High School linemate of fellow freshman Laura Bowman sniped with 39.6 seconds remaining to lift the Skippers to a first-ever Minnesota state championship over Nielsen and Edina. The following year, Petersen scored 6:21 into overtime to topple Vetter and Lakeville North in the state semifinals, and she offered a pair of assists in a 3-0 win over Jahnke's Roseville in the final as an encore. And back in February, the Skippers completed a three-peat, thanks largely to both a Bowman shot that went in off of Petersen's chest to end a marathon six-overtime semifinal against Lakeville North and also a second-period breakaway goal from Petersen that held up as the winner in the championship game against Hill-Murray the next day.

Career Statistics (with Minnetonka High School):
Season	GP	G	A	Pts.	PIM	PP	SH	GW	GT
2009-10	28	8	21	29	-	-	-	-	-
2010-11	31	21	24	45	0	-	1	5	0
2011-12	31	12	37	49	2	-	0	5	0
2012-13	31	29	36	65	2	3	2	6	0
HS Career	121	70	118	188	4	3	4	16	0