The Greenberg Ice Pavilion is no stranger to stellar hockey players, but tomorrow both benches will be lined with all-stars.
The ACHA will hold its first-ever Division I All-Star game at 7:30 tomorrow night at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion with players representing 34 different teams from 14 different states. Seniors Keith Jordan and Nick Signet will represent Penn State.
Other players will travel from as far away as Arizona and North Dakota to compete.
Icers coach Scott Balboni and Delaware Blue Hens coach Mike DeAngelis will be the head coaches for the White and Blue teams, respectively, and will coach 20 players apiece.
ACHA Division I Commissioner and Treasurer Brian Moran served as chairman for the player-selection committee, which initially chose 64 players based on nominations submitted by each team's staff. Six nominated coaches were also selected from a field of eight candidates solely on how their teams finished in the season rankings.
Once the players were chosen to participate, Balboni and DeAngelis drafted players via conference call based on positions. Balboni said he couldn't help but be a little selfish and select his own two players, which made Penn State one of only eight teams to send multiple players.
"I'm proud of [Signet] and Keith for the job they've done for us," Balboni said. "They deserve to be out there and I was happy to get them on my team."
Strong fan support of the Icers helped land the game in State College. The ACHA wanted the venue to have a central location, a strong fan base and a willing hockey program to help coordinate the event. The University of Illinois and University of Ohio were the two other candidates, but State College was the consensus choice.
ACHA Executive Director Chris Wilk and Moran initially proposed the game last December. Moran said the all-star game idea had been kicked around before, but nothing formal had ever been decided. He added that an increased budget was the main reason the game could be successfully carried out this year and putting it on at season's end allowed the ACHA to showcase the event.
"The two biggest questions concerning the game were always when and how," Moran said. "The how was answered when the teams in men's Division I agreed to up their dues for the 2007-2008 season. This allowed the ACHA to set up a budget to put on an event that will be a thrill for the players, coaches and fans."
The increase in funds helped the ACHA make a commitment not only for the game, but also for meals and hotel costs for the players. The meals will include a pregame banquet at the Auto Port restaurant in State College as well as a postgame pizza party at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.
Icers assistant coach Matt Bertani covered all of the arrangements that Moran couldn't while being in Michigan. Bertani's tasks included finding a hotel, arranging for the shuttle services and coordinating the banquet and photo sessions for the two teams. He also helped getting advertisements in local papers for the game as well as contacting youth hockey organizations in and around the area.
"The most difficult part was finding a place for the guys to stay," Bertani said. "There weren't a whole lot of hotels that could take in over 40 guys but we knew some people that had been good to us in the past and I was able to get everything done.
"Commissioner Moran just told me everything he wanted for the weekend so I made the calls and beat feet around town to get it down."
The ACHA is hoping the game will be a success and possibly lead to more all-star events in other divisions. Moran said he hopes to have the game every year from now on. He also hinted at the possibility it could return to Penn State and if it is successful, could eventually be the game's permanent location.
