UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Picture this.
It's October 11, 2013. You're sitting in the newly opened Pegula Ice Arena, one of 6,370 people, watching Penn State take on Army.
The puck just dropped, and the air is thick with anticipation. Everyone is waiting for the first goal to be scored. But luckily, you don't have to wait long.
Three minutes and 12 seconds into the first period, defenseman Nate Jensen takes a shot from the blue line and the puck hits the back of Army's net. The goal horn sounds.
"The atmosphere was electric, you could feel it," head coach Guy Gadowsky said. "Everybody was in unbelievable anticipation of that first (goal). I remember the play in the offensive zone, I remember the puck being on the left side of the ice, I remember it coming back to the point and Nate winding up… when (the puck) went in, the place erupted."
Earlier in the day, Gadowsky and staff had no idea that the Nittany Lions would beat the Black Knights 4-1.
The stress of that Friday was palpable as support staff tried to ensure everything was in order before the fans entered the building. The team and coaching staff were anxious for the first game. But, after Terry Pegula's rousing pre-game speech, Gadowsky and his squad were ready to hit the ice.
For Jensen, the player who scored the first-ever goal in Pegula Ice Arena, that game will forever stick out in his mind.
"The first game was absolutely chaotic and fun. Just going into that new arena with all the fans… it was just an awesome experience and I'll never forget it. That goal was just so memorable, and I'm so happy to have done that with the teammates I had on that team," Jensen said. "It was just kind of a whirlwind of an experience. Once we got on the ice it was awesome, the crowd was just so loud… I wish I could go back to it right now."
Jensen considers Gadowsky one of his biggest mentors, and credits his program with instilling in him his work ethic and attention to detail.
"(Gadowsky) taught us to do the little things right, and even in games he broke the game down into smaller games (because) detail is so important with him," Jensen said. "And as a player, you obviously know it's important – the details. But, to me it's just as important for what I do now. Him just teaching us the details then, I've brought that into my everyday life at work… you don't think about what he's saying in the moment, but everything he said meant something in the bigger picture and he helps grow not just players on the ice, but grown men that can go out into the business world and compete.
"I think it just goes back to Guy. He knows how to get the most out of you and how to be detailed on and off the ice."
Erik Autio, Jensen's mentee, recalls Jensen's work ethic in everything he did – on the ice, in class and in the gym.
"Nate was a great leader on the team," Autio said. "He held everyone accountable for working hard at the rink and made sure all the guys were included for off-ice activities as well. He was a really important part of the team my freshman year.
"I remember Nate picking me up from the airport when I got to the United States, saying that he'll make sure everything goes well for me in the upcoming season. I felt like it really gave me confidence going into my freshman year."
Jensen, his playing days long behind him, now works for Terry Pegula as a Mergers and Acquisition, Oil and Gas Analyst with East Resources in Boca Raton, Florida. He's worked for the company since graduating in 2015.
"I interned for Terry Pegula my junior year (at Penn State), and when I went back to school I took a bunch of oil and gas classes just to keep my options open in case I would ever work for Terry again… I reached out to Terry… and he said, 'Come on down,' and I started working for him down in Florida," Jensen said.
While Boca Raton isn't known for being an ice hockey hub, Jensen still straps on his skates and will hit the ice once or twice a week. And as he works for Pegula now, his favorite team is the Buffalo Sabres.
With Penn State alumni in the Sabres system, such as Brett Murray and Brandon Biro, Jensen especially enjoys following and discussing the team with Mr. Pegula. It's not lost on him that a single game, almost a decade ago, altered the course of his life.
"(Mr. Pegula) introduces me to people and (says that) one of the main reasons he hired me was because I scored the first goal in the arena that's named after him, so he had to hire me," Jensen joked.
"I'm grateful to work for him — he's one of the hardest working, detail-oriented guys I know," Jensen added. "Plus, he has a lot of fun and passion in what he's working on… he's just a humble guy, he's easy to be around. I'm very fortunate to work for him."
