ANNAPOLIS, MD (Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007) -- History will be made tomorrow night (Friday, Sept. 21) when the U.S. Naval Academy's ice hockey team faces off against the University of Maryland Terrapins at McMullen Rink at 7:30 p.m. Not only will it be the first intercollegiate hockey game ever played at the Naval Academy's new ice rink and tennis facility, it will mark the beginning of a season full of "firsts" for the Midshipmen icers. In addition to playing in a new rink, Navy's ice hockey team is also starting the 2007-08 season with a new head coach and a new league. After six years as a Navy assistant coach, primarily directing the offense, Mike Fox will be at the helm as head coach tomorrow night, succeeding longtime head coach Rick Randazzo. And, after a long history as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA), the Mids joined with five other teams to launch a new league: the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL). Besides the Midshipmen, the fledgling ESCHL includes former ECHA rivals Drexel, Rhode Island, and Scranton, plus always tough Delaware and Penn State. Navy will play four games against each team in the league -- two at home and two on the road -- plus a rugged non-league schedule that includes Maryland, Lehigh, Towson, West Chester, Stony Brook, and University of Pittsburgh. "This year's schedule is a tough one, no question about it," coach Fox said. "Not only do we have five other very talented teams in our league, we play a few ECHA clubs that always give us fits, and some other tough teams such as Stony Brook and Pitt. But we have a great group of returnees and some promising plebes, so I know we'll be competitive every time we step on the ice." The Mids return six seniors including last year's second leading scorer Nick Schwob, who had 27 goals and 14 assists for 41 points. Schwob is joined by classmates Derek Johnson (team captain), Brian Gleason, Donnie Horner, Adam Shields, and Drew Stoner. Also returning are forwards Nolan Anliker, Charlie Daniel, Charlie Hymen, Nick Hinkley, Keegan Kinkade, Jeff Martin, Alex Wallis, and Jon Westerman. Forward Jeff Dubinsky is back after a two year sabbatical, while Jack Culliton rejoins the squad after taking a year off from hockey. Defensively, in addition to Horner and Shields, Navy returns Chandler Brewer, Matthew Gross, Patrick Heitman, Andrew Ochalek, and Matt Swezey. In goal, sophomores Eric Anderson and Jeremey Estevez are back, along with Alex Tidei, who was a manager on last year's team but impressed the coaches enough playing between the pipes during the pre-season to make the roster as a third netminder. Among the newcomers who are expected to make an immediate impact this season are freshman forward Sam Carlson, along with defensemen Matt Keller (a junior) and Ryan Ramirez (an exchange student from the U.S. Air Force Academy). McMullen Rink is located directly adjacent to the Naval Academy Golf Course on Greenbury Point Road, on the other side of the Rt. 450 Naval Academy Bridge. Specific driving directions can be found by clicking on the McMullen Rink link on the Navy ice hockey team's official web site (www.usna.edu/navyhockey). There is no admission charge or tickets required. Following Friday night's season-opener with Maryland, McMullen Rink will host the annual USNA Alumni game this Saturday, Sept. 22, at 9 a.m. The Midshipmen will be back in intercollegiate action next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 28 and 29, when they meet former ECHA foe Lehigh. Both games will have 7:30 p.m. opening face-offs.