Penn State Nittany Lion Icers head coach Scott Balboni recorded his 100th win as the team’s commander in chief Friday (Oct. 23) with a victory over the Drexel Dragons.
“It’s really a testament to this program as a whole,” said Balboni following the game. “The players, the other coaches, the boosters, the fans: everyone that has been with the program for the last few years can lay some claim these 100 wins.”
Balboni, now in his fourth season as the head coach of Penn State’s ACHA Division I hockey team, reached the century mark in just 127 games and now holds an overall record of 101-19-8 after a second win over Drexel on Saturday (Oct. 24).
The Salem, N.H., native has led the Icers to the ACHA national tournament each of the last three seasons. His team was the national runner-up in 2007.
“It’s a great honor for him,” said assistant coach Bill Downey after Balboni’s monumental win. “It’s also great for this program to continue to put up wins year after year.
Senior captain Matt Kirstein arrived at Penn State the same year that Balboni took over as head coach in 2006.
“It’s a special thing for everyone that’s been a part of it,” said the Icers forward. “It’s definitely a special accomplishment for coach Balboni.”
Balboni’s Icers are currently 6-1-1 as he tries to win his first national championship as a head coach, something his predecessor, Joe Battista, did 6 times in 19 years as head coach of the Icers.
“Joe Battista put the pieces in place,” said Balboni of the former Icers head coach. “He helped set up this program and made it what it is today. I owe a lot of my success to him.”
Balboni and the Icers host West Virginia University (5-2) Friday (Oct. 30) at 9 p.m. and Saturday (Oct. 31) at 3:30 p.m. at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion on the Penn State campus.
“It a great honor to be able to reach 100 wins so quickly,” said Balboni, “but now my attention turns to this season’s goal: winning a national championship.”
Visit www.pennstatehockey.com for more information.
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