About the Author

Neal Goulet

Neal is the editor and publisher of Pennsylvania Puck.

Intrastate rivalries renewed at college and pro levels this weekend

A couple of spirited Pennsylvania hockey rivalries re-engage on Friday (Veterans Day) in Erie and Hershey.

In northwest Pennsylvania, the Mercyhurst College men’s team plays host to Robert Morris at 7:05 p.m. It is the first of three scheduled meetings this season between the Atlantic Hockey Association foes. (They have a home-and-home series Feb. 10-11.)

Mercyhurst has won four straight games, evening its overall record at 4-4; the Lakers are 3-0 in the AHA. Robert Morris, coming off a weekend split against American International, is 3-6-0 (1-2-0 in the AHA).

Meanwhile in Chocolatetown, the host Hershey Bears will take on the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at 7 p.m. The American Hockey League teams have faced each other three times already, with the Baby Pens winning the past two.

The first 3,000 fans attending the game will receive an autograph book courtesy of Quality Digital Office Technology.

The hockey road trips don’t end here. Set the GPS for these other games and giveaways:

Nov. 12: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton vs. Norfolk

Opponents think they’re jokers, but to their fans the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are all aces. The first 5,000 fans at this game will receive a set of Penguins playing cards, courtesy of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Here’s the rest of the deal: the Baby Pens take on East Division rival Norfolk.

Nov. 13: Bridgeport at Bears

The Northeast Division’s Bridgeport Tigers make their first visit to Giant Center for a 5 p.m. faceoff. As for that autograph book you picked up at Friday’s game, you can use it for tonight’s post-game autograph session in the club lounge. Critters from ZooAmerica also will be on the premises, but they will not be signing autographs.

Nov. 12-13: Reading Royals host Elmira

ECHL Atlantic Division rivals, the Royals and the Elmira Jackals haven’t played each other this season until now. They make up for lost time with three games in three days, starting Friday in Elmira, N.Y.

The scene shifts to Sovereign Center at 7:05 Saturday. The first 2,500 fans receive a bobblehead T-shirt courtesy of Metro Bank.

For Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. faceoff, the first 1,000 children ages 12 and younger will receive an autograph book. The Royals will wear camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned after the game.

Scouting report on the Jackals:

Their leading scorer is Evan Barlow, who has 16 points in nine games. Barlow, who played four years at Cornell, has 145 points in 106 career ECHL games.

While Barlow is a relative newcomer to pro hockey, Jackals defenseman Craig Rivet is a product of the 1992 National Hockey League Entry Draft. The Montreal Canadiens selected him in the third round. He is a veteran of 923 NHL games and served as captain of the Buffalo Sabres from 2008-11.

Rubber Meets the Road is a weekly guide to the promotions and matchups for your next hockey road trip.