The inaugural Pittsburgh College Hockey Invitational comes during a special year for college hockey in Pittsburgh, as CONSOL Energy Center will also host the NCAA Men's Frozen Four in April with Robert Morris serving as the host institution.

"We are very excited about this new tournament and the opportunity to host it at CONSOL Energy Center," Robert Morris Head Men's Hockey Coach Derek Schooley said. "The Pittsburgh College Hockey Invitational will be a great showcase for our sport as well as a tremendous warm-up for the Frozen Four in April. We are grateful to both the Pittsburgh Penguins and CONSOL Energy Center, and we look forward to a successful partnership."

Robert Morris is no stranger to CONSOL Energy Center, having hosted the RMU Hockey Showcase at the venue for the last two years as well as playing in the facility as part of the Winter Classic Week festivities in 2010. The Colonials are also quite familiar with Ohio State and Miami, having played a combined 12 games against the two nonconference opponents including a sweep over the then No. 1 ranked RedHawks in 2009-10. With Penn State joining the NCAA Division I ranks for the first time next season, the Colonials will have their first opportunity to play the Nittany Lions in 2012-13.

"We think the invitational is another great step forward for college hockey in Pittsburgh," said Jay Roberts, general manager of CONSOL Energy Center for SMG. "We've done well with Robert Morris games here at CONSOL Energy Center the past few years, and now with Penn State entering NCAA Division 1 hockey, we thought it was a perfect opportunity to build an annual event around those two programs."

More information regarding the inaugural Pittsburgh College Hockey Invitational will be dispersed as it becomes available.