Army, Penn State to meet in Capital Hockey Classic in December

The Army hockey team will provide an outstanding appetizer to the annual Army-Navy football game.

In the shadow of The Pentagon military headquarters and two days prior to the football clash in nearby Landover, Maryland, Army will take on Penn State on Thursday, December 12, at Capital One Arena, home of the NHL's Washington Capitals. The event is the inaugural Capital Hockey Classic.

"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 we've never played.''

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"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,'' said Jim Van Stone, president of business operations and chief commercial officer at Monumental Sports & Entertainment. "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.''

Time and ticket information for the Capital Hockey Classic will be announced in the coming months.

Army and Penn State played in a memorable contest last season, with the Nittany Lions rallying for a 7-6 victory. Penn State is coached by Guy Gadowsky, whose son, Mac, plays for West Point and was an Atlantic Hockey all-rookie selection.

Army hockey will open its season on Oct. 6 at Union College. The home openers at Tate Rink are Oct. 25-26 against Bentley.

Capital One Arena hosted the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four hockey event.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Army, Penn State to meet in Capital Hockey Classic in December