Jan. 18, 2013
Listen | | Game Notes
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's hockey team will travel to the City of Brotherly Love to face off against Vermont Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Wells Fargo Center for the Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff. Puck drop between the Nittany Lions and the Catamounts is scheduled at 8 p.m.
The inaugural Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff will be televised live on the Comcast Network with Jim Jackson (play-by-play) and Steve Coates (analyst) on the call. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia can be found on Comcast Cable SD channel 8 and HD channel 846.
The Nittany Lions (8-12-0) and Vermont (6-11-4) are part of an NHL/college hockey doubleheader at the Wells Fargo Center Saturday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers will open their seasons at 3 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG
In addition to the TV broadcast, fans can listen to Saturday's game on the Penn State Sports Network and through the All-Access channel at GoPSUsports.com. Live stats will also be available, while fans can follow in-game updates through the team's Twitter account (@PennStateMHKY).
FIRST-TIME HOST
Saturday night's game will mark the first NCAA Division I contest at the Wells Fargo Center. In 2014, the Wells Fargo Center will serve as the host venue to the NCAA Frozen Four.
COMMON OPPONENT
Both Penn State and Vermont have played Union in 2012-13. The Nittany Lions dropped a two-game series to the Dutchmen Nov. 24-25, while Vermont topped Union, 2-1, in the Sheraton/TD Bank Catamount Cup Dec. 29.
PSU IN NHL VENUES
The Nittany Lions are 1-1-0 in NHL arenas this season after playing in the Three Rivers Classic at Pittsburgh's CONSOL Energy Center. Penn State fell to Robert Morris, 6-0, in the opening round before edging Ohio State, 5-4, in the consolation game.
SCOUTING UVM
The Catamounts are 6-11-4 overall and 3-8-4 in Hockey East. Vermont, which represents Penn State's lone Hockey East opponent, is on a three-game losing streak after falling to Merrimack, 4-1, Jan. 5 and being swept by UMass Lowell in a two-game series Jan. 11-12.
HOMECOMING
Five Penn State student-athletes will be returning home to the Philadelphia area for Saturday's game:
| PSU | Hometown | Local Team |
| Dolan | Havertown | Monsignor Bonner |
| Morrone | Sewell, N.J. | Philadelphia Jr. Flyers |
| O'Brien | Furlong | Team Comcast |
| Central Bucks East | ||
| Sweetland | Newtown | Pennsbury HS |
| Mercer Chiefs | ||
| Varley | Lansdale | Valkey Forge Minutment |
| Philadelphia Jr. Flyers |
FAMILIAR FOES
Several players on Penn State and Vermont were teammates during their junior and prep school careers:
| PSU | UVM | Team |
| Brooks | DeCenzo | Tri-City (USHL) |
| Jensen | Nilsson-Roos | Cedar Rapids (USHL) |
| Loik | Mountain | Penticton (BCHL) |
| Madrazo | Rosenthal | Kent Prep (USHS) |
| Musico | Markison | Jersey (EJHL) |
SACRIFICING THE BODY
Seven Nittany Lions have blocked at least 10 shots this season. Freshman defenseman Luke Juha, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season, leads the team with 24 blocks. Joseph Lordo (16), Connor Varley (14), Nate Jensen (12), Peter Sweetland (14) and Rich O'Brien (10) are among the team's top shot-blocking defensemen. Michael Longo leads the Nittany Lion forwards with 15 blocked shots.
IN THE CIRCLE
Freshman David Glen leads the team with a .590 faceoff percentage (226-of-383) with at least 75 draw attempts. Eric Steinour (.542), Max Gardiner (.541), Taylor Holstrom (.538) and Casey Bailey (.500) round out the team's top-five centermen.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following Saturday's game, the Nittany Lions will travel to East Lansing, Mich., for a two-game series against future Big Ten foe Michigan State Jan. 25-26.