For the first time in its short Division-1 history, the Penn State hockey team is ranked. The latest USCHO Top-20 Poll has the Nittany Lions listed at No. 20.

Penn State has been flirting with the Top 20 all season, but has always found itself on the outside looking in. The team received the most votes of any unranked team in last week’s poll, so a ranking seemed to be on its way for the young program.

Despite the team’s inactivity since its sweep of Wisconsin on the weekend of December 5 and 6, it received 23 more votes (for a total of 79) in this week’s poll.

The No. 20 Nittany Lions sit at 9-4-2 and are in first place in the Big Ten. They also have the T-15 scorers in the nation, linemates Taylor Holstrom and Casey Bailey, who have 18 points apiece. After its inaugural season in the Big Ten and Pegula Ice Arena saw an 8-26-2 record, this year’s team is back with big-time improvements, and earned itself a well-deserved ranking.

No. 20 Penn State is back in action December 29 against No. 19 Robert Morris in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ CONSOL Energy Center. The Colonials rode a four-game winning streak to being ranked at No. 17 in last week’s poll, but a series split (including a shutout loss) against Mercyhurst placed them one spot above Penn State in the polls.

With the Big Ten schedule coming up and the Penn State team already full of confidence, it’s about time they got some national recognition. Congrats to the team on their first-ever ranking, and here’s hoping more votes are on the way.