New PSU Hockey Arena and a Possible Move to D-1?

Link is a PDF press release. Excerpt:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 18, 2008) – Crawford Architects announced today that the firm was selected for the study to design the Ice Hockey Arena for Pennsylvania State University.

Penn State’s new hockey arena will allow Intercollegiate Athletics to develop a Division I men’s and women’s varsity program and continue the recreational skating program. The program includes new a 6,000-seat venue for Varsity Hockey and other events, as well as an additional sheet of ice. Full services amenities will be included, such as premium seating options and provisions for a wide range of events.

According David Murphy, Principal at Crawford Architects, "The challenge is to design a facility that enhances the surrounding campus, functions smoothly, and meets all the needs of a Division I program."

9 months ago Run Up The Score 33 comments 0 recs |

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Question

If they did move to D-1, what conference would they likely join?

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

by ReadingRambler on Feb 17, 2009 12:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say...

At first, it might be more likely a jump to the CHA – Robert Morris and Niagara are reasonably close, and we do have a history with Alabama-Huntsville. So it’s possible to jump there, if only temporary.

From there, it’s likely either the Atlantic Hockey or trying to force our way into the CCHA. Again, it’s all speculation until we get to that point.

by IcersGuy on Feb 17, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, there’s always the theory of a breakaway Big Ten Conference hockey which would shake up the college ice hockey world and potentially hurt smaller schools, especially those in the CCHA and WCHA who would lose big rivalries.

As a side note to that, were the Big Ten to adopt ice hockey, wouldn’t it be another enticing reason for Notre Dame to jump to the conference given that they’d be left in a much weaker and less interesting CCHA?

by Laaaaazzz on Feb 17, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto

to the CCHA and WCHA, however it may also convince Illinois to join DI soon too. That would be interesting keeping up an ACHA rival.

Onward to the Rose Bowl...Again!!!!!
Trapped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.

by bconway6 on Feb 18, 2009 2:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have yet to see the plans...

but I’ve heard they have some rough/early sketches of the rink plans. From those who have seen them, everything looks quite impressive. I’m excited about the prospect of 2 sheets of ice. Just curious as to where they plan to drop this new building. Here’s to hoping everything actually goes through this time…

by IcersGuy on Feb 17, 2009 12:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

2 sheets of ice?

I don’t know anything about hockey really, is that like two rinks, or is it literally two sheets of ice? eh?

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Feb 17, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

two rinks

It’s how most community rinks are built these days. It’s usually a more efficient way to do it. You can cover both rinks with one zamboni, share generators and locker rooms. A lot of places will also build one at NHL size and the other at Olympic, which is quite a bit bigger, I suppose so that they can accommodate a wider range of events.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 17, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What Kevin said

although we’ll roll out both zamboni’s on the one sheet these days, but “efficiency” is a funny word…

One of the biggest things for adding a second rink is really availability – especially if/when we make the jump D1. The rink very commonly packed up in terms of time. Besides the 3 ice hockey teams (Icers, Ice Lions, Lady Icers) using it for practice and games, there are skating classes, various levels of hockey (everything from toddler and peewee lessons, all the way up to intramural and adult leagues), local figure skating clubs, open skate times, and the random parties/group rentals of the ice. Again – all of this on just the one sheet. Getting a second sheet will go a long way in reducing this congestion, as well as give some of these groups more time for quality practice.

by IcersGuy on Feb 17, 2009 5:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Full contact PSU intramural hockey

was one of the main non-school reasons I went to Penn State. I still remember walking into the rink on my visit and thinking “man, I need to go to a school that has this”. I never did play, though, dorm rooms and tiny apartments don’t lend themselves well to hockey equipment, and ended up having to get my fix in playing in old man leagues during the summer.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 17, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The best fringe bennefit

to working at the rink was finding a dusty corner to squirl away the equipment. I have no clue how the dorm dwelling freshmen did it.

Onward to the Rose Bowl...Again!!!!!
Trapped in the SF Bay area.....nothing like kickoff at 9 am.

by bconway6 on Feb 18, 2009 2:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice.

I had a friend freshman year who roomed with a kid and his hockey bag. It was pretty awful.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 18, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The depth of stink in most hockey bags

begs for a nice open area so no one accidently gets snuffed out in their sleep

pinkertonpark.com - you owe yerself a laugh.

by rahpsu92 on Feb 19, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard that

It may be replacing the old existing rink. It would kind of make sense

by Roland86 on Feb 17, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Same rumor I've heard

Once the new one goes up, the old one will (very likely) come down. It’s also the reason why they’re pushing for two rinks in the new building.

by IcersGuy on Feb 17, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense

More room for the football building. But seriously, Hockey could very well become the second most popular sport at PSU. Vying for basketball fans could become interesting. Does the BTN do many hockey games?

by psuphiman80 on Feb 18, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I could see Hockey being much bigger than basketball ever could be for PSU, given the socio-economic factors that play into that sort of thing, Hockey and the rural middle portion of PA really go hand in hand the way basketball doesn’t. If you’re in Philly or Pitt, chances are you’re a Temple or Pitt fan.

That being said, I could easilly be into both BB and Hockey…

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Feb 18, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Right

There’s a bunch of good (and better than PSU) programs in college basketball in the state. The Big Five is huge in Philly and certainly Pitt in Pittsburgh. So, it’s tough for PSU to try to develop a fan base in that sport — much of the people who root for PSU in football root for other schools in basketball.

But ice hockey is relatively virgin territory in PA. You only have Robert Morris and Mercyhurst, neither of whom are anything special. You only have Princeton in New Jersey and no teams south of PA on the Atlantic coast. There’s a lot of potential there to build up a fan base simply from our already established football base, especially considering the popularity of the Flyers and Pens.

by Laaaaazzz on Feb 18, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

A friend of mine (at least I didn’t say friend of a friend) works for the football team and said the plan is to replace Greenberg with the new building. Greenberg will be merged into the football building and turned into a dining hall specifically and exclusively for the team (you know, so it’s easier to keep it under wraps when teammates pull knives on each other).

From what this friend said, the new building would be built either on or near where the field hockey field is, behind Wagner and above Sarni Tennis Courts (I realize this sounds dubious at best, but I’m just relaying what I’ve heard). He did say it would have two sheets.

by TrueBluePSU on Feb 18, 2009 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Central location

That would be a nice location if they could pull it off. Doesn’t seem like there is much parking near there though. You have the lot next to Shield on University and Curtain, but beyond that you’d have to go on the other side of the BJC. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a terrible walk or anything, but people might not like doing it in the heart of winter.

Of course, maybe with only 6000 seats, that wouldn’t be much of an issue.

by Laaaaazzz on Feb 18, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All I know is that I like Hockey a hell of a lot more then I like basketball and if PSU had a D-1 Hockey team I’d be first one in line on the bandwagon.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Feb 17, 2009 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm not much of a hockey fan...

…But I want both. Why can’t us???

"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it."

by ReadingRambler on Feb 17, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Does anyone that knows our program well think that we’d have a shot at competing at a national level?

by jacum21 on Feb 17, 2009 9:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

in short

Immediately? Heck no. Long term? Absolutely.

by Cairo on Feb 17, 2009 10:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Echo the sentiment

First few years, we’ll likely hold our own against the lesser D1 teams, and then get blown out by the regular national powers. But then we’ll have scholarships and we can go after top level talent year in and year out and build a serious program. Considering we’re already one of the premier club teams without scholarships, I really don’t think it will take too long before we really begin to hold our own regularly.

by IcersGuy on Feb 17, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How well does our team do in its current league?

Didn’t I read a few years ago that we won (or played in) the MNC of that league?

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 18, 2009 8:18 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but relatively speaking.

I think it’s like a high school basketball team winning a summer league game as opposed to the Class AAAA state championship.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Feb 18, 2009 9:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know, RUTS...

some of us who’ve been around the program and the ACHA might be a bit offended by that statement.

Sadly, it’s only been in the past few years where we might actually have a case, so I concede the point. : )

As a brief recap, since the 1997-98, the Icers were in all but one (last season) ACHA championship game, winning 5 of those championships. Yes, the league was much thinner back in the 90’s and early 00’s, but the level of competition has risen exponentially in the past few years. Either way, Penn State has always been a top-tier program year-in, year-out.

by IcersGuy on Feb 18, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, Icersguy

I thought I remembered something to that effect.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 18, 2009 1:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Penn State moving to D1 would be awesome. That could be the beginning of mid-Atlantic expansion in the NCAA, who knows.

They would probably initially have to join Atlantic Hockey, which would be great for PA’s other D1 team at Robert Morris. The problem with that is that Atlantic Hockey just added two new teams for 2010/11 (RMU and Niagara — College Hockey America is folding up), so they might be reluctant to expand any further.

Also, Atlantic Hockey had a scholarship limitation — teams can only offer 12, I believe.

The other conferences just simply aren’t expanding. While adding PSU to D1 would be awesome, I don’t know if it’s feasible right now unless other big time schools are ready to make the jump at the same time.

Broad Street Hockey - SB Nation's Philadelphia Flyers Blog
Because the Broad Street Subway is orange for a reason.

by Travis Hughes on Feb 18, 2009 12:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How is the Rutgers hockey team?

I heard a radio commercial today for ProtecHockey Ponds Ice Center and they said it’s the home of the #1 Rutgers hockey team. Living in NJ, I’ve never heard anything about a RU hockey team.
Are they that good? If so, congratulations.

"The sea was angry that day, my friends." G. Costanza

by NJ lion on Feb 18, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Meh...

They’re probably the best team at Rutgers – that’s about it. They’re decent, although their numbers might be a bit inflated due to their “weaker” schedule. A quick run through of who they’ve played thus far hasn’t turned up anything spectacular. And those handful of better teams they’ve faced, well, they haven’t really stepped up to the challenge.

And because I can, Adrian College beat Rutgers, 6-1, earlier this season. For comparison, Penn State beat the same Adrian College team earlier this season at the ACHA Showcase. Final score of that one? 16-1.

by IcersGuy on Feb 18, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

uh-oh

looks like they took down the press release.

BSD

by Kevin HD on Feb 19, 2009 11:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn’t be surprised if they put it up prematurely. I don’t know if we’ve settled on a builder yet or not – everything is still fairly early in the planning stages.

by IcersGuy on Feb 19, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs