This morning at the Nittany Lion Inn, the Penn State Board of Trustees voted to attach the name “Pegula Ice Arena” to a complex that will house Division I hockey as well as many other recreational events starting in late 2013.

The arena and new men’s and women’s hockey teams were made possible by an $88 million gift from Terry and Kimberly Pegula, which was announced back in September. Terry Pegula became a billionaire in 2010 when he sold his company East Resources Inc to Dutch Royal Shell.

The teams will enter Division I in time for the 2012-2013 season and will play at the Greenburg Ice Pavilion for at least their first year of competition.

Athletic Director Tim Curley said, “Pegula Ice Arena will offer numerous competitive and recreational opportunities to the University and local communities. The impact of the Pegulas’ remarkable gift will be felt far beyond ice hockey and for many years to come.”

Being the only state-of-the-art ice arena in Central Pennsylvania, the plan is for the facility to also hold skating camps, professional ice shows, kinesology courses and AHL and NHL exhibition games in the future.