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Hockey is back, folks.
Penn State and the Big Ten conference unveiled Phase I of its scheduling plan on Thursday afternoon. The conference-only-plus-Arizona-State plan features 24 games against conference foes, plus four contests against the Sun Devils hosted at Big Ten venues.
The season will conclude with the Big Ten Tournament held March 18-20.
The Nittany Lions teased the announcement with a series of cryptic tweets on Wednesday.
Good morning!
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 4, 2020
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 4, 2020
Good afternoon!
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 4, 2020
The tease did not pay off that afternoon, so the program’s social team was at it again Thursday morning.
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 5, 2020
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 5, 2020
( ℎ )
Followers were once again forced to wait on the edge of their seats for an official announcement, though other programs dropped less subtle hints at what was to come.
I bet the Big Ten releases a hockey schedule before all the election votes are counted..... . .
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) November 5, 2020
At long last, a date.
November 19
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) November 5, 2020
Shortly thereafter, the full release was issued.
The Nittany Lions open the 2020-21 season 271 days after the 2019-20 season ended, coincidentally, against the same foe: the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They will then travel to Wisconsin for a weekend series against the Badgers.
The Nittany Lions won’t play at Pegula Ice Arena until a midweek series on Dec. 2-3 against Michigan. They’ll close out the semester at home with a series against the Sun Devils on Dec. 11 and 13.