About the club
A volunteer supporters' organisation for Penn State men's ice hockey, in one form or another, since the club-hockey era.
Purpose
The objective of Friends of Penn State Men's Hockey, Inc. is to increase fan support and involvement of alumni, students and the community in the Penn State men's hockey program. In practice that means four things: keeping a membership community together, publishing a newsletter, running social events and travel, and raising modest funds through raffles and the annual golf outing.
The club is an independent organisation. It supports the men's hockey program but is not part of the university's athletics department, and it operates within the rules that govern supporter organisations in college athletics.
From booster club to Friends
The organisation was incorporated as Men's Hockey Booster Club, Inc. during the club-hockey years, when the Penn State Icers competed in the ACHA and volunteer support was the difference between a season happening and not happening. Its bylaws describe a corporation organised exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and more particularly to support and assist the Penn State men's hockey club.
When the program moved to NCAA Division I, the organisation continued under the name Friends of Penn State Men's Hockey, Inc. The work did not change a great deal: the newsletter kept its title, the raffle kept its format, and a good number of the volunteers kept their jobs.
Bylaws of Men's Hockey Booster Club, Inc. (PDF, 12 pages) — the club's governing document, archived here as a historical record.
How the club is organised
A volunteer Board of Directors is elected by the membership. The officers are the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, joined by additional directors and by past presidents who continue to advise.
Day-to-day work is divided among committee chairs: Membership (the list, renewals and the game-night table), Newsletter (Full Strength, twice a season), Social Media, Social (socials, tours and travel) and Club Historian (the club's records, photographs and archive).
Anyone interested in volunteering can write to info@fopsmh.org. The most useful thing a new member can do is take one shift at the membership table; it is the fastest way to meet people and the job the club always needs filled.
What the club runs
- Full Strength — the club newsletter, published each fall and spring. The archive runs from 2014 onward.
- Socials — season-opening and season-closing gatherings for members.
- Arena tours — behind-the-scenes visits to Pegula Ice Arena for members.
- Road trips — chartered travel to selected away games, run as day trips or overnights.
- Basket raffles — a season-long fundraiser sold at the concourse table at home games.
- Hockey Golf Classic — the spring outing for Penn State hockey alumni and friends, held at the Penn State Golf Club.
Non-profit status
Friends of Penn State Men's Hockey, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation.
General enquiries: info@fopsmh.org. See also the contact page.