Shootout Showdown

I wrote on Sunday morning that the Icers deserved a lot of credit for "battling back every time Rhody took a lead."

Unfortunately, Penn State was unable to get the go-ahead goal against Rhode Island and the Icers couldn't find a way to solve Rhody goalie Paul Kenny in the shootout.

Rhode Island's Dave Macalino was the only shooter able to beat Matthew Madrazo, giving the Rams a 5-4 win and spoiling the outcome of the Icers' alumni day game.

Now, the Icers have to prep for Robert Morris. The Icers took two from the Colonials last month. If they repeat that feat this weekend, they should secure their spot in the 20th annual ACHA national tournament.

The ticket to the dance likely will be easier to obtain after 10th-ranked Oakland was swept by #9 Oklahoma. The Golden Grizzlies face the tougher road, having to take on #1 Lindenwood this coming weekend.

We Are - Penn State Hockey!

When Joe Battista showed me this video a couple of weeks ago, all that I could say was, "WOW!"

Icers alumnus Michael Messner, through his Pittsburgh-based Mind Over Media company, put together this promo video that was officially unveiled at last night's alumni dinner.

To say that it brought the house down is a gross understatement. In fact, it was played twice, and received a standing ovation.

The video promotes Penn State hockey, but it is much more than a promo video. In just over three minutes it says all that needs to be said about why this entity that we call the Icers Family is so special, and why the bonds within the family run so deep.

To have so many alumni travel so far in miserable conditions is testament to how tight the bond is between those players.

Mike's video is just one of a number of highlights from a day and a night that spawned a wide range of emotions.

Emotions ran high when it was announced that 90-year old John Dufford wants to be the first person to skate on the ice of the Pegula Ice Arena. Knowing John, he'll be ready to lace them up in the fall of 2013.

There was a steady stream of alumni and family members thanking Terry and Kim Pegula for making the dream come true. The Pegulas were presented with two special gifts that will play a prominent role in the future.

One of the loudest standing-O's of the night was for Athletic Director Tim Curley. Mr. and Mrs. Curley hosted the event, and the open bar - which drew the most applause!

Barbara and I enjoyed ourselves immensely, reconnecting with old friends from past teams and meeting with some Icers players from before our time in Hockey Valley.

It continues to be our honor to be a part of this family that is Penn State hockey.

Hall of Fame Class of 2011 Induction Ceremonies

For the second year in a row, Mother Nature did her best to upset the Icers Alumni Day, but not this year.

Terry and Kim Pegula and Cliff Benson spent three hours stuck behind a jacknifed semi on I-99, but arrived at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion just in time for Mr. Pegula to take part in the induction ceremonies of the Icers Hall of Fame Class of 2011.

Of course, those ceremonies were pushed back from the first intermission to after the second period, but that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things!

Alumni Wrap Up

Saturday's 5-4 shootout win by Rhode Island may not have been the capper that the Icers fans and alumni were hoping for, but as Kyle Rossi so eloquently put it in his weekend recap,

While the shootout didn't go the Icers' way, the fact that it came to that means that PSU, for all intents and purposes, "won" alumni weekend.

The Icers were not on their game on Saturday, but they kept battling back every time Rhody took a lead. Dom Morrone's highlight reel goal that knotted the score at 4 was simply the play of the year, at least to this point of the season.

Unfortunately, Dave Macalino was the only shooter able to score in the shootout, giving the Rams the victory.

With ninth-ranked Oklahoma taking two from #10 Oakland this weekend, and with the Icers facing Bobby Mo at home next weekend, there is the possibility that Penn State could move up a spot in the next rankings that will be released on the 18th.

Barb and I had the pleasure of attending the Alumni dinner last night. Because of that and work commitments today (along with the length of time it takes to post videos to You Tube), I won't have the game highlights and Hall of Fame induction videos posted here until this evening at the earliest.

The dinner was an incredible event - making me wish I had video to post. Well, at least the PG-rated parts!

One Down, One to Go

It was another big win for the Icers on Friday night, despite a second period meltdown.

Freshman Andrew Duval, inserted into the lineup in place of the injured Mike Long, scored his first goal as an Icer in the third period as eleventh-ranked Penn State knocked off #6 Rhode Island 4-3 at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

Dom Morrone and Nick Seravalli had staked the Icers to a 2-0 lead in the second before the guys stopped skating.

Rhode Island scored three straight to take the lead, but Mike Broccolo notched his second of the season and second in two games to tie the game at 3 after 40 minutes.

That set the stage for Duval's game winner - another goal scored by someone getting into the dirty area in front of the opposition net.

Andrew's goal was witnessed by his dad, who caught a red-eye flight from Denver to make it to Hockey Valley in time to see the game.

Today is Alumni Day, with the accompanying Hall of Fame inductions and a special surprise. The guys will have to concentrate for 60 minutes and avoid going to sleep as they did last night.

With a win today and a sweep of Robert Morris next weekend, the Icers can claim a share of the ESCHL regular season crown. More importantly, it says here that a win today will cement their 20th straight appearance in the ACHA National Tournament.

Ninth-ranked Oklahoma helped the Icers last night with a 6-1 drubbing of #10 Oakland, while #12 Iowa State blanked Div. II Kansas 9-0.

This is the third straight weekend that the Cyclones have played a D-II squad. I'm not sure that will help their chances of making it to the dance, especially after struggling to win two last weekend against Colorado State.

Stretch Run

I'll get this out of the way right off the bat. Now that February is here - it is going to be so nice to be spending three out of the next four weekends at home!

January was a tough month, with seven of the eight games away from the Greenberg Ice Pavilion. On the ice, the Icers were 5-3, including last weekend's huge split at Delaware.

Saturday's 3-2 win at the Rust Arena may have been enough to secure a spot in the national tournament. We'll have a better idea when the new ranking is released on Friday.

There's no time to rest with Rhode Island coming to Hockey Valley this weekend. The sixth-ranked Rams will be looking to spoil the party on Alumni Weekend. As Rodney Martin put it in his weekend capsule:

The Icers are "on the bubble" of making the ACHA National Tournament field for the 20th-consecutive time. A pair of victories would likely punch their ticket to the dance.

Also in the balance is the ESCHL, regular-season title. If the Icers sweep the Rams (with at least one win in regulation) and sweep Robert Morris next weekend, they will be ensured at least a share of the ESCHL crown. If they sweep their remaining games and Delaware loses either of their games with West Chester the following week, the Icers will be sole owners of the regular-season title. The Icers have won at least a share of the league title since it was formed in 2007.

On Tuesday, I spoke with Mike Broccolo and Dan Petrick.

Mike scored the game winner on Saturday, just his first goal of the season, while Dan may have saved the Icers' season on Saturday after enduring a tough night on Friday.

Both know the importance of this two-game series, and both know they'll have lots of support from what should be a full house for both games.

Don't forget - Saturday's game has been moved up to a 2:00pm start from the normal 3:30pm faceoff.

First Star

Officially, Mathew Madrazo was the first star of Saturday's 3-2 Penn State win over Delaware. Unofficially, interim head coach Josh Hand gets a first star nod as well.

Josh, with the assistance of volunteer coach Will Gigante, ran a tight bench and had the guys believing that they could knock off the Blue Hens.

This week, coach Hand is working to keep the confidence level up as the Icers prepare for two games with Rhode Island.

In other news, the Buffalo Sabres have confirmed the worst kept secret in hockey (Ver. 2.0).

Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano agreed to sell the franchise to Pennsylvania businessman Terry Pegula on Tuesday.

The team announced the agreement, but details were not released. Golisano and managing partner Larry Quinn have scheduled a news conference for Thursday.

The Buffalo News reported the agreement, which is subject to league approval, includes $175 million US for the Sabres and an additional $14 million in liabilities.

The sale still needs approval of the NHL.