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Nov. 6, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's hockey team (2-3-1) will return to Pegula Ice Arena Friday, Nov. 8 when it welcomes Sacred Heart (2-5-0) for a 7 p.m. faceoff. The Nittany Lions, who returned to the win column last week with a 5-4 victory against Robert Morris, will look to improve to 2-0-1 at home in 2013-14.
LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS AVAILABLE
A limited number of standing-room only tickets are available for Friday night's game and can be purchased at the Bryce Jordan Center Ticket Office or 1-800-NITTANY Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Fans can also buy and sell bowl tickets using the TicketExchange feature on GoPSUsports.com.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Friday night's game will be available through Penn State All-Access and on the radio at WRSC 103.1 FM.
POSTGAME AUTOGRAPH SESSION
A postgame autograph session with forwards Tommy Olczyk and Max Gardiner will take place on the north concourse following the game.
LIONS BEGIN SEASON-HIGH HOMESTAND
Friday night will begin a season-high, five-game homestand for Penn State. Following their matchup against the Pioneers, the Nittany Lions will host UMass Lowell (Nov. 14-15) and Union (Nov. 30, Dec. 1) before starting Big Ten play at Wisconsin (Dec. 6-7).
TRIP ALONG THE ATLANTIC
The Nittany Lions (2-2-1 vs. AHA teams) are opening the season with four straight games and six of their first seven contests against teams from Atlantic Hockey. Penn State, which previously played Army, Air Force, RIT and Robert Morris to start the season, will play its final game against an Atlantic Hockey team Dec. 27 when it faces Robert Morris at the Three Rivers Classic.
LAST YEAR VS. THE PIONEERS
Six Nittany Lions - Max Gardiner, Nate Jensen, Curtis Loik, Michael Longo, Jonathan Milley, Mark Yanis - scored in a 6-3 win at Sacred Heart Oct. 27, 2012. Forward Michael McDonagh collected a career-best three assists, while PJ Musico won his fourth straight game with 16 saves.
The six goals are the most scored in one game by Penn State in its NCAA history.
SCOUTING SACRED HEART
The Pioneers, who are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, opened the season with a 2-1 triumph against No. 1 UMass Lowell Oct. 11. Sacred Heart is concluding its season-long five-game road trip against Penn State.
FAMILIAR FOES
A pair of Nittany Lions called Pioneers teammates during their junior careers.
| Team | PSU | SHU |
| Chilliwack (BCHL) | Thompson | Graboski |
| Wichita Falls (NAHL) | Musico | Sheehan |
STEADY SKOFF
Sophomore goaltender Matthew Skoff improved to 8-3-1 in his last 12 games with a career-high 48 saves against Robert Morris Nov. 1. The McKees Rocks, Pa., native has faced at least 40 shots five times in his career (3-2-0).
POWER PLAY FINDS SUCCESS
The Nittany Lions recorded more than one power-play goal for the first time in their NCAA history, going 3-for-7 vs. Robert Morris.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Five Nittany Lions reached the back of the net in a 5-4 win vs. Robert Morris. Penn State produced five unique goal scorers for the first time since a 5-1 win vs. Air Force Nov. 10, 2012.
Freshman defenseman Mike Williamson scored his first career goal, which proved to be the game-winner.
OLCZYK MAKES IMPRESSION
Junior captain Tommy Olczyk, who netted three goals in 2012-13, has scored in back-to-back games for the first time. The Long Grove, Ill., native netted a shorthanded marker against Vermont Oct. 26 before tallying against Robert Morris Nov. 1.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Nittany Lions will continue their homestand with a two-game series against No. 11/12 UMass Lowell Nov. 14-15.