Joe Varello got the scoop during a phone conversation with Navy head coach Rick Sowell, who had called to check on how summer leave was going.
It was a real stunner and quite personal for Varello, who was slated to take over as Navy’s primary faceoff specialist as a senior. Varello happened to be home in Kings Park, New York, so he went downstairs to inform his family.
Navy would be playing Syracuse in the fabled Carrier Dome on April 21, 2018.
That was a surprising announcement since the Midshipmen had not met the Orange in a regular season game since March, 1983.