The addition of the Pennsylvania State University to the list of universities that sponsor college hockey scarcely can be overstated. Penn State has the ability to increase the exposure of the great sport of college hockey in new markets and grow the fanbase for college hockey nationwide. Penn State is the land-grant institution and the flagship university for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We as proud fans, alumni, and students who live in the great community that surrounds University Park realize that Penn State has a responsibility to the Commonwealth.

These responsibilities range from those of greatest importance including civic involvement to those of lesser importance including athletic ambassadorship. It is for these reasons that we understand that Penn State has the unique responsibility to expand the college hockey market beyond its current bounds within Pennsylvania. Penn State is qualified uniquely to achieve that task.

We understand that it is to fulfill these responsibilities that Penn State has decided to play Penn State's second-ever men's ice hockey game at the NCAA Division I level away from University Park, PA and in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The venue of this game will increase the exposure of college hockey in Pennsylvania generally and will increase much-needed interest in the Penn State hockey programs specifically.

However, we as fans, alumni, and students localized in the University Park area do not wish to see this opportunity to expand on-campus enthusiasm squandered. The choice to play the first-ever men's ice hockey game at the NCAA Division I level at home and then have the weekend series completed 130 miles away in a city that is not accessible easily by any form of mass transit risks stunting the needed growth of enthusiasm that this nascent NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program needs.

The greatness of college hockey is the passion of the fans that is born from an intimacy between the fans, alumni, and students. The strength of these connections is what distinguishes a select few fanbases in the college hockey world from all others. The loyalty and devotion of a fanbase is discernible readily because they manifest themselves in synchronized chants and diehard support.

Penn State hockey deserves such a following. However, we fans, alumni, and students know that such is not a given even with a university as passionate as Penn State. Passionate fanbases are forged through continuous contact with the program and shared experiences. We think that the choice to move the second-ever men's ice hockey game at the NCAA Division I level risks jeopardizing the development of such a fanbase at its most fundamental stage.

We fans request not that the game be moved back to University Park because not only is that impossible but undesirable in light of the other discussed objectives. We request that Penn State will charter a bus for those interested that will take fans, alumni, and students from the University Park area to the Mohegan Sun Arena for the second game against American International College on January 13, 2012.

Students are the heart of any great college hockey program. The chartering of a bus from University Park to Wilkes-Barre will ensure that the maximum number of students possible can make the trip. The trip itself will provide an opportunity for fans, alumni, and students to bond, and build a sense of community and organization. The trip will serve to augment the development of a sizable and passionate fanbase rather than risk stunting the development of such a fanbase through limiting the access of students to the game in Wilkes-Barre.

We request that Penn State will charter a bus from University Park to Wilkes-Barre so that all those interested fans, alumni, and students from the University Park area can attend both games of the long-awaited first series of Penn State men’s ice hockey at the NCAA Division I level. We understand that those who wish to benefit from this opportunity will need to pay some marginal fee in addition to the cost of a ticket to the game at the Mohegan Sun Arena.