Penn State Nittany Lions (8-12-0 -- D-1 Independent)
vs.
Vermont Catamounts (6-11-4 -- Hockey East)

1. ABOUT THE TEAMS
Penn State enters their first season as a Division-1 hockey program… They began the year going 5-1-1, however have dropped four of their last five games… Next season the team will play in the Big Ten Hockey Conference… Vermont played it's first game of men's hockey in 1963 and most recently played in the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four… The Catamounts have dropped three straight games after going 4-1-2 from a stretch in Nov. 30 - Dec. 30.

2. LOCAL TIES
The two clubs, who will be facing each other for the first time this season, will include nine players from the Tri-State area – five currently playing for Penn State and four playing for Vermont… All of them grew up playing hockey in the area for various club organizations… Five players – Penn State’s Rich O’Brien, Connor Varley, Peter Sweetland, and Brian Dolan, along with Vermont’s Nick Luukko – participated in the Flyers Cup Scholastic Championships with their respective high school teams.

3. A TRADITION STARTING?
Tonight's game is the first-ever Division I NCAA hockey game at the Wells Fargo Center and will serve as a preview to the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four men’s hockey championships, which will be held at the Wells Fargo Center April 10-12, 2014.

4. Player to watch VERMONT: #25 - Nick Luukko
The 6-2, 181 pound defenseman is in his second year of collegiate hockey… He has three goals and four assists for seven points in 21 games so far this season, including five points (2G-3A) in his last nine games… Luukko was the Flyers' sixth round pick (179th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

5. Player(s) to watch PENN STATE: #11 - David Glen & #18 - Casey Bailey
Freshmen David Glen and Casey Bailey lead the Nittany Lions in scoring with 10 goals and 18 points each… Penn State owns a 7-4-0 record when Glen records a point and 6-5-0 when Bailey posts at least a point… Bailey has the hot hand recently with four goals and seven points in his last four games.