Oct. 22, 2015
By Maria Canales, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- It's been 1,105 days since Penn State men's hockey took the ice in its first Division I game. This weekend the Nittany Lions will face AIC, the first team Penn State played as a varsity program back in 2012.
On Oct. 12, 2012, the Nittany Lions skated in their first Division I game inside Greenberg Ice Pavilion against the Yellow Jackets. The night would end in an overtime loss for the Nittany Lions, but the new program wouldn't let their first loss get to them. The next night, this time in Wilkes-Barre, the Nittany Lions would rally past the Yellow Jackets in an overtime win, 4-3.
Head coach Guy Gadowsky remembers those two games very well, and fondly reminisced on how Penn State fought that weekend for the program's first win.
"I remember the weekend was very tight," said Gadowsky. "I think both were overtime games and obviously what I remember most was the tremendous goal from David Glen from Kenny Brooks and Curtis Loik and that was a tremendous goal and the first win for us was great, so I definitely remember that."
David Glen, now a senior and captain this season, propelled the Nittany Lions to their first win in program history with his overtime game winning shot, assisted by fellow seniors Kenny Brooks and Curtis Loik.
Senior Connor Varley remembers the program's first game in Greenberg Ice Pavilion well and the significance it will have for the senior class this weekend.
"Just the excitement honestly," said Varley. "I think everyone was really excited for the first Division I game here at Penn State. It's amazing that it's been three years already so obviously it was a really memorable moment for our program."
In the days since that weekend, Penn State has not faced AIC on the ice. This weekend will bring the senior class down memory lane against a team they only saw their freshman year.
"I never really thought of it when they were on the schedule but you're right, for the seniors that we have now, their first Division I game was against AIC and here we come full circle and in a new building and we'll see if they've learned anything," said Gadowsky.
Gadowsky is excited to play AIC this weekend and show them how Penn State hockey has grown in the three years since the two teams met.
"When we played AIC before it was in Greenberg, it was still a very good atmosphere but it was in Greenberg, and then we played them in a neutral site game, which was in Wilkes-Barre," said Gadowsky. "So I think the big difference is they're going to come here and see what a great arena we have, what a tremendous atmosphere and I think that's going to be the biggest difference."
Penn State hockey has come a long way since their first season, even if it's only been three years.
"It's really flown by and there's been tons of great memories, a lot of big milestones for our program," said Varley. "It's been great to be a part of."
As for this weekend against AIC, the Nittany Lions are looking to build off their successful win this past Saturday against Notre Dame.
Varley, along with the other seniors, is looking forward to this weekend, not only playing AIC but also using every minute of ice time to get better as a team.
"I think week-by-week we're just trying to build on what Penn State hockey is, build our foundation, so as we go along by the time we get to the tournament we'll be at, you know, 100 percent," said Varley.
Penn State hosts AIC on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m.