Dec. 9, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's hockey equipment manager Graham Pepperman heads a Penn State contingent for USA Hockey at the World University Games in Trentino, Italy this month.
Pepperman, who also assisted the USA Hockey efforts during the 2011 World University Games, will serve as head equipment manager for the men's team during the two-week event, which kicks off Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. ET when the women play Russia and 2:30 p.m. ET when the men face Sweden. The 2011 USA women's team finished fourth, falling to Slovakia in the bronze-medal game during the inaugural women's tournament.
"It's an honor to be able to represent Penn State University and our country in Team USA's quest for a gold medal," Pepperman said. "I'm proud to be able to continue the long history of Penn State representation at the Winter Universiade here in scenic Trentino, Italy."
Pepperman is one of many Penn State connections in Italy for the tournament. The USA men's team is led by Scott Balboni who was the head coach of PSU's men's ACHA team from 2006 to 2011. Mo Stroemel is the head coach on the women's side. Stroemel was the former Penn State director of operations/video coach last season and head coach of the ACHA squad from 2007 to 2011.
Following the Sweden game, the men face Latvia on Friday at 2:30 p.m. ET, Italy on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:30 p.m. ET before knockout play begins on Wednesday, Dec. 18. After the Russia contest, the women see Great Britain at 6 a.m. ET on Thursday, Japan at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, Canada at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15 and Spain at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 16. The semifinals are set for Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Penn State has had a long history of coaching at the World University Games in addition to Balboni, Stroemel and Pepperman. Current women's head coach Josh Brandwene was an assistant men's coach for the 2003 squad headed up by Joe Battista. USA Hockey uses athletes from the ACHA level of hockey to fill out its rosters.