The game will serve as the second NHL preseason game in the history of Pegula Ice Arena, which saw Minnesota top the Sabres, 2-1, last September. The arena, which opened in the fall of 2013 with a capacity of 5,782 for hockey, is host to the Nittany Lions men's and women's ice hockey teams.
It'll provide a memory to a lot of Pens players returning to a huge part of their development, which took place in an NCAA setting. The team's lineup includes 11 former college players: Josh Archibald, Zach Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger, Thomas Di Pauli, Carl Hagelin, Bryan Rust, Freddie Tiffels. Kevin Czuczman, Matt Hunwick, Chad Ruhwedel and Casey DeSmith.
The collegiate landscape, filled with 60 Division I men's ice hockey programs, is often heralded for the quick pace, joyous student sections, and intimate arenas. The opportunity to return to a collegiate arena, and play an NHL game there, is something that excites a lot of Pens players.
"I'm excited. I heard a lot of really good things about the rink," Rust said. "The rink looks beautiful, and being a college hockey guy it's always fun to go back and play at those rinks."
Rust, who played four seasons with Notre Dame from 2010-14, also explained how the atmosphere of the NCAA game compares to that of an NHL one.
"It's different," he said. "The college atmosphere is a little bit more rowdy, especially the student sections at certain schools. Hopefully it'll be a pretty good atmosphere tonight. I'm hoping the band is there, that the student section is there, the whole works."
Hunwick, a Michigan native who played for the Wolverines from 2003 to 2007, echoed Rust's sentiment on the atmosphere of a college arena.
"Certainly, the size of the arena goes a long way, but just the enthusiasm of the fans and the students," he said. "Playing at Michigan, it was a very unique environment. Teams really enjoyed coming in and playing there, it's a fun experience. To have the interaction with the fan base as strong as it is with a lot of these colleges, that's what really makes it special."
Di Pauli, a Notre Dame product, is the lone Penguins player to have skated at Pegula Ice Arena before, notching a goal and an assist in a pair of games in 2015-16, his senior year. Now, he's looking to score a goal as a member of the Penguins with some friends in the stands watching.
"I have a couple buddies that go there, they're going to the game," he said. "It's going to be exciting to be at a college rink again."
