No individual embodies Penn State hockey like Joe Battista. As Associate Athletic Director for Ice Arena and Hockey Development, Battista knows the program inside and out. He played, coached, recruited, built it, even. The “godfather” of the team, he’s been through it all. Legitimizing high-level hockey at Penn State has been a century-long struggle.

When fans get their first chance to see the 2013-14 Penn State men’s hockey team at the brand-new Pegula Ice Arena the night of Friday, Oct. 4 in a free and open practice, all that will be a thing of the past. And when the puck drops against visiting Army at on Oct. 11, a new era will truly begin at Penn State as the Division I Nittany Lions enter their first season as members of the brand-new Big Ten Conference.

via B1G Hockey: How Penn State hockey got here « Big Ten Network.