South Charleston will play host to the Pitt-West Virginia ice hockey game at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19, according to Mayor Frank Mullens.

"It's real exciting," Mullens said. "We'll draw a crowd. If anything will stir interest in ice hockey around here, this is it."

The club matchup will take place at the South Charleston Ice Arena.

"We're going to have to watch the T-shirts coming through the door now," joked Butch Buckley, arena assistant director.

Buckley said the connection began last season when WVU played Ohio University at the facility.

"We had our largest crowd ever here,'' Buckley said. "This year, Ohio couldn't come, but [WVU coach] Jeff Anderson called and said Pitt could make it.''

Buckley said WVU's team will hit South Charleston the evening before the Tuesday night affair and a handful of Mountaineers will hold a free clinic for kids. The city will provide a pre-game meal for West Virginia's players.

"We've got the backing of the mayor and city," Buckley said. "It's going to be really nice."

Buckley said Charleston's Greg Hoyer helped put together the event with sponsorship from Brickstreet and the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association.

"We've got the buses paid for and will give each team a little money and food," Buckley said.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.

South Charleston will play host to the Pitt-West Virginia ice hockey game at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19, according to Mayor Frank Mullens.

"It's real exciting," Mullens said. "We'll draw a crowd. If anything will stir interest in ice hockey around here, this is it."

The club matchup will take place at the South Charleston Ice Arena.

"We're going to have to watch the T-shirts coming through the door now," joked Butch Buckley, arena assistant director.

Buckley said the connection began last season when WVU played Ohio University at the facility.

"We had our largest crowd ever here,'' Buckley said. "This year, Ohio couldn't come, but [WVU coach] Jeff Anderson called and said Pitt could make it.''

Buckley said WVU's team will hit South Charleston the evening before the Tuesday night affair and a handful of Mountaineers will hold a free clinic for kids. The city will provide a pre-game meal for West Virginia's players.

"We've got the backing of the mayor and city," Buckley said. "It's going to be really nice."

Buckley said Charleston's Greg Hoyer helped put together the event with sponsorship from Brickstreet and the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association.

"We've got the buses paid for and will give each team a little money and food," Buckley said.

Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, mitchvin...@wvgazette.com or follow him at http://twitter.com/MitchVingle.