Rodney Erickson, David Joyner, Joe Battista, and Terry Pegula were in the brand new Pegula Ice Arena this afternoon for the official dedication of the facility, hours before the puck drops on the men’s hockey team’s first game of the season against Army. Erickson gave the opening remarks of the ceremony, quoting former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Bob Johnson.

“It’s always a great day for hockey,” Erickson said.

He added that the facility would be used for a wide range of campus and community activities, including public skating sessions, youth camps, professional ice shows, and National Hockey League and American Hockey League exhibition games. Erickson said that this will bring tourism and other economic impacts to this region. He also mentioned that Pegula’s $102 million donation was the largest single donation in Penn State’s history.

After Erickson, Board of Trustees chairman Keith Masser was introduced to a mixture of cheers and boos. Masser extended his appreciation to the Pegula family on behalf of the Board. Joyner spoke next, speaking about the benefits of the new arena and his excitement for the upcoming season.

“There’s going to be 1,000 students in that student section tonight,” Joyner said, “and if you don’t think that’s going to be a lot of fun, you’re going to be missing out.”

After Joyner spoke, captain Tommy Olczyk, Terry Pegula and associate athletic director Joe Battista were invited to center ice, and each poured water from Mt. Nittany, the Lion Shrine, and the Greenberg Ice Pavilion to officially “dedicate” the arena.

Terry Pegula finished the presentation. After thanking nearly everybody in the Penn State athletic department — including former president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley — he expressed the importance of dedication and the rewards that will follow.

“I dedicated my whole life to a dedicated company, East Resources, and from that was the foundation and ability to fund this beautiful facility,” Pegula said. “I want everyone to know the oil and gas industry is alive and well, and you should be very thankful for it.”

After Pegula was presented with a jersey with a No. 1 on the back, President Erickson summed up the day by saying, “It’s not just a great day for hockey, it’s a great day for all of Penn State.”