Penn State Altoona Ice Hockey Club History
In the summer of 2002, a young Altoona hockey player was moving on from high school to attend college at Penn State Altoona. At the time, the college did not have any ice hockey program, as Altoona’s only ice rink, Galactic Ice, was just two years old. Eighteen year-old Chris Cogan decided that it was going to be his goal to start a program so that he and others would have a place to play competitive ice hockey in college. After weeks and months of relentless work and disappointments around many corners, finally a seed had been planted and Cogan was able to start what would become the Penn State Altoona Lions Ice Hockey Program.
That first season in 2002 was purely exhibition, as the team put in applications to join College Hockey East, and the American Collegiate Hockey Association as a Division III program. The first season brought on many challenges and triumphs, but most importantly it set the foundation for this highly potent program.
In a pleasant surprise in 2003, Youngstown State University dropped out of College Hockey East, opening the door for Penn State Altoona to join as a full-time member a year early. Cogan and the school gladly accepted the opportunistic offer and the team was eligible to compete for a College Hockey East Championship in just their second year of existence, while being a provisional member of the ACHA as a Division III program. The 2003 campaign started off with change, as former head coach Dave Weaver stepped down because of his new position and obligations as General Manager of Galactic Ice, opening the door for Mike Bowman to become head coach. Coach Bowman guided the team early on to a successful start, beginning 3-1-1, before realizing just how good the CHE is and falling short in several contests to solid programs. Near the end of the fall semester in 2003, Coach Mike Magee joined Coach Bowman and helped steady the ship. The spring 2004 semester was a tough one for the lions, as they rounded out the CHE campaign with a 4-9-1 record, including a couple of tough one goal losses to nationally ranked IUP, to finish with an overall record of 7-9-2.
In the months to follow, the program gained full-time status with the ACHA and became eligible to compete for a national championship in March of each year. That was just the beginning.
Several assistant coaches have come and gone, including Jeff Adams (Head Coach, Hollidaysburg High School), John Antesberger (Head Coach, Bishop Guilfoyle High School), and Garret Barbosa (Assistant Coach, Mid-State Mustangs and Altoona Trackers U-16). Mike Magee remains with the program as does assistant coach and strength trainer Glen Barbosa.
The Lions made the CHE playoffs in 2004-2005 in just their second season, losing to Edinboro in the first round. The 2005-06 campaign featured a lot of turnover in players, and it took that season and 2006-07 for the Lions to start getting back on track. The 2007-08 season saw PSU Altoona make it to the ACHA regionals, eventually finishing 8th in the 35 team Atlantic region. The team that year also finished as South Division Champions in CHE, ultimately falling in the finals to eventual National Champion California University of PA in two games, 6-5 and 5-2.
The 2008-09 edition of the Penn State Altoona Lions had a slow start in the first half of the season but rallied in their last five games to capture the 6th and final playoff seed. In their quarter-final game, the Lions edged Robert Morris, 3-2, to set up a rematch of last year's finals against California University. The Lions would however fall short losing to Cal U in the semis.