COLLEGE HOCKEY RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER WITH THE INAUGURAL HOCKEY KNIGHT IN JERSEY

THE EVENT FEATURS ARMY HOSTING PENN STATE ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10 IN NEWARK

TICKETS ON SALE, TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 9

NEWARK, N.J. – September 8, 2026 - Prudential Center today announced the return of college hockey to Newark with the inaugural Hockey Knight in Jersey, set for Thursday, December 10. The event features a marquee matchup between the Army Black Knights and Penn State Nittany Lions NCAA Division I men’s hockey programs. This will mark the return of NCAA Division I men’s hockey to Prudential Center for the first time since 2014.

The game will be conducted two days before the 127th edition of the annual Army-Navy college football rivalry matchup taking place at MetLife Stadium; the inaugural Hockey Knight in Jersey will help anchor a marquee weekend for collegiate athletics in New Jersey.

Tickets for the event go on sale to the public on Wednesday, September 9 at 12:00 PM EST through www.ticketmaster.com. For group opportunities and experiences for 10+ people, contact 973-757-6000 or email groupevents@prucenter.com. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.

"We are honored to welcome collegiate hockey back to Prudential Center for the inaugural Hockey Knight in Jersey featuring Army hosting Penn State. We want to thank both institutions for their partnership in this great event on such a special sporting weekend in the State of New Jersey,” said Dylan Wanagiel, Vice President, Sports Properties and Special Events, Prudential Center/HBSE. “With college hockey being the latest addition to our thriving sports and entertainment programming portfolio, Prudential Center continues to take great pride in delivering a diverse array of event programming to our community.”

"We are looking forward to playing Penn State at Prudential Center and giving players from both teams the opportunity to compete in a first-class NHL venue", said Army West Point Head Hockey Coach Zach McKelvie. "College hockey has never featured more talent or excitement, and we’re thrilled to be a part of bringing that experience to New Jersey’s passionate hockey fans."

"Whenever you have the opportunity to bring together two outstanding college hockey programs in a venue like Prudential Center, it's a win for everyone involved,” said Penn State Head Coach Guy Gadowsky. “Playing in a major city and an NHL arena gives our student-athletes a tremendous experience while also showcasing college hockey on a bigger stage, For Penn State, it's another opportunity to take our program throughout our footprint and connect with alumni, recruits and fans who may not always have the chance to make it to Hockey Valley. We have a tremendous following throughout New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, so we're excited to give those fans another opportunity to see us compete. We have a great deal of respect for West Point and the Army Hockey program, and we think this is the type of event that highlights everything that's great about college hockey while helping expose our game to an even broader audience."

The event marks the return of collegiate hockey to Prudential Center for the first time since the 2014 Liberty Hockey Invitational, which featured UConn, Princeton, Yale, and Merrimack.

This latest installment of college hockey adds to the diverse calendar of events at The Rock, as it continues to deliver impactful events that bring fans together and highlight Newark as a premier destination for sports and entertainment. From NCAA events to world-class concerts, to family entertainment and special events, Prudential Center continues to elevate its profile as one of the nation’s leading sports and entertainment venues.

INSIDE LOOK AT THE MATCHUP

Fans will be treated to a matchup featuring two of the premier NCAA Division I hockey programs in the Northeast. The Nittany Lions advanced to their first-ever Frozen Four in 2025 and enter the contest following back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including three in the past four years.

The Black Knights enter the second season of the Zach McKelvie era looking to build on a 12-17-6 campaign in 2025-26 that saw Army advance to the Atlantic Hockey America Tournament before falling to Niagara in the opening round. Army returns reigning AHA Goaltender of the Year JJ Cataldo, who was also a 2025-26 All-AHA First Team Selection. Army continues a proud hockey tradition as one of the nation’s historic military academy programs.

Penn State arrives in Newark following a 21-14-2 season under head coach Guy Gadowsky, which included an appearance in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship. The Nittany Lions continue to establish themselves among the nation’s top programs, combining a passionate fan base with a modern tradition of success at the Division I level.

EXPERIENCE IT LIVE

Tickets for Hockey Knight in Jersey are on sale tomorrow, September 9, via Prucenter.com, Ticketmaster.com, and Prudential Center’s Box Office. For group opportunities and experiences for 10+ people, contact 973-757-6000 or email groupevents@prucenter.com. For Premium seating opportunities, visit prucenter.com/premium.

Follow us on social media for more up-to-date information as it becomes available: Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok @PruCenter.

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL CENTER
Prudential Center is the world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, Professional Women’s Hockey League’s (PWHL) New York Sirens and more than 210 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 worldwide by Pollstar, Billboard and various other industry publications, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and hosts over 2 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit prucenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok @PruCenter. Prudential Center is a HBSE property.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES
Bill Hanousek | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | Director, Entertainment Communications| bhanousek@hbse.com

Sara Hudson | Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment | Coordinator, Entertainment Communications| sarahudson@hbse.com

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