Hockey non-conference slate set for Penn State's 2022-23 season

On3 imageby:Nate Bauer06/29/22

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The 2022-23 season is taking shape for the Nittany Lion men’s ice hockey program. Announced Wednesday afternoon via press release, the 10-game non-conference schedule is set.

Five opponents are on the schedule, beginning with Canisius to open the season at home on Oct. 7 and 8. The games played at Pegula Ice Arena will mark Penn State’s first return to home ice since Feb. 19’s 4-6 loss to No. 5-ranked Minnesota.

Following the two-game set against Canisius, Penn State will face Mercyhurst in a home-and-home series on Thursday, Oct. 13 and Friday, Oct. 14. The set will begin at Pegula the first night before the teams travel to Erie, Pa., for the second game on Friday night. The meeting will be the first between the two programs dating back to 2017, with Penn State owning a 2-1-0 record in the series.

Next up, the Nittany Lions will host the University of St. Thomas at Pegula on Oct. 20 and 21 for another Thursday/Friday set. Former Penn State associate athletic director Phil Esten is now the AD at his alma mater. The Tommies finished 3-32-1 last season.

Penn State non-conference hockey schedule

Oct. 7-8 – Canisius (H)

Oct. 13-14 – Mercyhurst (H/A)

Oct. 20-21 – St. Thomas (H)

Nov. 22-23 – Alaska (H)

Dec. 30-31 – Rochester Institute of Technology (A/H)

Leading into the Thanksgiving holiday, Penn State will again play host for a two-game set on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23. The Alaska Nanooks will make the cross-country trek in a make-up for a series that got bumped during the 2020-21 COVID season. In the first set in Oct. 2019, the two teams split.

Finally, Penn State will wrap its slate of non-conference opponents when it travels to Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, Dec. 30. The two teams will then return to Penn State for a New Year’s Eve tilt at Pegula.

The Nittany Lions are coming off a 17-20-1 season in 2021-22 under Gadowsky. Finishing with a 6-17-1 mark against Big Ten opponents, the Nittany Lions’ 17 points in conference eclipsed only Michigan State, while Minnesota, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin all finished ahead of Penn State.

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