By @SAdyson

On December 22, the Steel Army had one of its first social events of the 2013 inaugural season at Highmark Stadium as they took to the ice at the Penguins Pond sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Skaters enjoyed some of the amenities of the nearly-complete Highmark Stadium, including a concession stand directly behind the supporters’ section in the east end. In addition to this, the west end of the stadium has begun construction–where there will be a restaurant with a solid draft beer selection for guests.

The ice was fresh, and as the afternoon wore on, more and more guests filled the rink. Apparently, attendance has been down at the Penguins Pond from last year, which is probably a result of the NHL Lockout and general apathy towards professional hockey this time in the year. Regardless, the event was a blast, and the Steel Army will be planning its first general meeting some time after the holidays.

A nice perk of the outing was this commemorative print of the construction of Highmark Stadium, given to those who attended by Angela, the marketing consultant to the Hounds. The print is a piece of artwork designed by a local artist that shows Highmark Stadium being erected in its final stages. Apparently, Jason Kutney is hidden somewhere in the picture, kind of like a “Where’s Waldo?” effect.