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Penn State's the newest member of NCAA Division 1 hockey, of course. The second newest? That would be Robert Morris, who started a club program in 1995; bumped up to Division 3 in 1998; and entered the D1 ranks in 2004. The Colonials will be the fourth Atlantic Hockey squad Penn State has faced this year.
Time: Friday 11/1, at 7:05pmET
Video: America One Sports, at $8 per game
Last Season: 2-3 L at University Park; and 0-6 L at Three Rivers Classic
Penn State's not been playing good hockey. They're taking a ton of penalties, averaging 22 PIM per game (not cool). And last year's top three points scorers - Casey Bailey, Dave Glen, and Max Gardiner - have combined for 0 goals and 1 assist through five games. Coach Gadowsky has used a ton of different lines so far this season, trying to find the best pairings. So far, no dice.
The Colonials (0-4-1) aren't bragging about their season to this point, either. They dropped their first two games at Lake Superior State, came home to tie Niagara, and then dropped both games of a home-and-home to the stinking Ohio State Buckeyes, giving the poison nuts their first two wins of the season. They're being out-shot 179 : 147, and outscored 3.6 : 2.2 so far this season. They're 6 for 26 on PP, and 7 for 26 on PK, but are taking 6.6 penalties per game, and averaging 19.8 PIM - not quite as bad as Penn State, but not too good.
This is a winnable contest for the Lions. But the boys in blue and white need to pick up their games on both ends, knock off the penalties (particularly the major variety), and put the biscuit in the basket.
Be sure to check out IcersGuy's blue liner notes post to keep tabs on all of the Penn State hockey squads.
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