Capitals and Monumental Sports & Entertainment announce college Capital Hockey Classic

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announced on Wednesday the inagural Capital Hockey Classic featuring a doubleheader at Capital One Arena, the home of your Washington Capitals. The game will take place on Thursday December 12 and feature a contest between Army and Navy's club hockey teams followed by a matchup between Army and Penn State's division one programs.

This contest will take place just days before the annual Army vs. Navy football game that takes place at Commanders Field on December 14. Capital One Arena previously hosted the 2009 Frozen Four.

Jim Van Stone, the President of Business Operations and Chief Commercial Officer at MSE said in a press release:

"We are static to be able to welcome college hockey back to Capital One Arena. It is an honor to host this college hockey showcase ahead of he 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. The military is an integral part of our community in the Washington, D.C. area and Monumental Sports and 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."

Penn State will enter their 13th season as a Division I program in 2024-25 just prior to the 2012-13 campaign. They were just as estatic to get the honor of playing in this game. Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky added

"It's truly an honor to be a part of the first-ever Capital Hockey Classic. The Army-Navy football game is a yearly spectacle and to add a hockey component to this special weekend is an awesome opportunity. I'm excited we will be able to spread our Hockey Valley community to the DMV area, an area we haven't been to yet in our short history, but one with a large alumni base. We know there will be a lot of Blue and White support in D.C.! We Are!"

Army head coach Ben Riley said:

"We are excited to have the opportunity to play in the Capital Hockey Classic against Penn State. 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 where we've never played. There will be a lot of energy with the Army-Navy Football Game on Saturday and this will be a great way to start the weekend with Army vs. Penn State on the ice."

Hockey has long been a staple at the West Point campus of the United States Military Academy with the program orginially forming in 1904. Since then it's become one of the most recognizable brands in college hockey. Riley is now in his 21st season.

Navy Club Hockey competes in Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Associatation (ACHA) and a member of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA). They won the ECHA championship in 2022 and went undefeated in 2023, advancing to the ACHA National Tournament each year. Kevin Rooney, who just completed his eighth season, noted this:

"The Navy Hockey Team is excited to continue the great legacy of the Army-Navy game. As the 'best of the best' student-athletes and leaders, the rivalry is historic and delivers an extreme level of competition that is only found in an event like this. In addition, it is an incredible opportunity to join with other hockey teams and Navy Football to be part of the entire Army-Navy legacy weekend. We will be ready to 'Bring it on' for this intense hockey weekend at the legendary home venue of the NHL's Washington Capitals!

After the success of the 2018 Stadium Series there is no doubt this will be a legendary weekend right before the holidays.