(WHTM) — Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announced today that Penn State Hockey will face Army in the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic this winter.

The Classic—an exciting college hockey doubleheader at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.—will take place on Thursday, December 12. The event’s first game will feature a contest between Army and Navy’s club hockey teams, followed by a matchup between Army and Penn State’s Division I programs.

The event will occur just two days before the famed Army-Navy rivalry football game takes place at Commanders Field on December 14.

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“We are ecstatic to be able to welcome college hockey back to Capital One Arena,” said Jim Van Stone, President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at MSE. “It is an honor to host this college hockey showcase ahead of the iconic Army-Navy football game, giving fans a chance to witness this storied rivalry on the ice and then see two top Division I teams match up against each other. The military is an integral part of our community in the Washington, D.C. area and Monumental Sports & Entertainment has a long history of harnessing the power of sports to make a lasting difference in the lives of those who serve our country.”

Both coaches are excited to compete in the Classic and spread the love for the game of hockey through multiple communities.

“It’s truly an honor to be a part of the first-ever Capital Hockey Classic,” said Penn State Hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky. “The Army-Navy football game is a yearly spectacle and to add a hockey component to this special weekend is an awesome opportunity. I’m excited we will be able to spread our Hockey Valley community to the DMV area, an area we haven’t been to yet in our short history, but one with a large alumni base. We know there will be a lot of Blue & White support in D.C.! We Are!”

“We are excited to have the opportunity to play in the Capital Hockey Classic against Penn State,” said Army head coach Brian Riley. “We know that there are a lot of alumni and Army fans in that area so it will be a great opportunity to bring the Army Hockey Team to an area where we’ve never played. There will be a lot of energy with the Army-Navy Football Game on Saturday and this will be a great way to start the weekend with Army vs. Penn State on the ice.”

Game times, ticketing information, and additional details about the Capital Hockey Classic will be available in the coming months at capitalonearena.com .

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