Pizza Hut inks deal with NHL’s Pittsburgh PenguinsPizza Hut inks deal with NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH Pizza Hut has a signed a multiyear deal Thursday to become the official pizza of the Pittsburgh Penguins National Hockey League team.

The deal gives the chain, a division of Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., the right to sell menu items this season in Mellon Arena, the current home of the Penguins, and in their new arena, which is expected to open in 2010.

Pizza Hut franchisee Aurora Huts LLC operates 53 restaurants in the Pittsburgh area. Jerry Buss, a former chief operating officer at Pizza Hut corporate headquarters, is president of Aurora Huts.