Penn State men’s hockey is scheduled to face Army on Thursday, December 12, in the inaugural “Capital Hockey Classic” at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Monumental Sports & Entertainment announced Wednesday morning.

The game will be preceded by a matchup between Army and Navy’s club hockey teams. The event is part of the buildup to the annual Army-Navy football game, which will be at Commanders Field two days later.

“It’s truly an honor to be a part of the first-ever Capital Hockey Classic,” said Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky said in the release. “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 are ecstatic to be able to welcome college hockey back to Capital One Arena,” said Monumental Sports and Entertainment’s Jim Van Stone “It is an honor to host this college hockey showcase ahead of the 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.”

Penn State defeated Army 7-6 at Pegula Ice Arena on January 6. The Nittany Lions went 15-18-3 and 7-14-3 in Big Ten play last season.