STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Penn State student section had been working overtime well before the first puck dropped between the Nittany Lions and Army at opening night Friday of the Pegula Ice Arena. But the 1,000-plus strong hankered for a quick goal.
It took only 3 minutes, 2 seconds of game time. Penn State’s Nate Jensen slotted one from just south of the blue line. the lights went out, and the Roar Zone – as the student section is called – went up.
The crowd of 6,370 in the $102 million facility erupted into a frenzy that echoed through the rafters for nearly a minute. When the rush of the moment finally died down, Penn State students assailed Army goaltender Rob Tadazak with jeers: "It’s all your fault."
The passion emanated the strongest from the first goal of what would be a 4-1 Lions win, but it started during the dedication ceremony before the game.