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Penn State set to host outdoor hockey at Beaver Stadium

Fitz headshot croppedby: Sean Fitz08/29/25SeanFitzOn3
NCAA Hockey: Penn State at Michigan
The Penn State Nittany Lions celebrate their win over the Michigan Wolverines at Yost Ice Arena. (Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images)

Penn State announced its regular-season schedule a week ago, but on Friday dropped an important clarification on one of the Nittany Lions’ biggest games of the season. After years of waiting, Penn State will finally head to Beaver Stadium for an outdoor hockey game.

The program confirmed rumors that Guy Gadowsky’s bunch, who are coming off their first appearance in the Frozen Four last season, will host Michigan State at the storied football stadium on Saturday, Jan. 31. The matchup will be a part of a doubleheader with the women’s ice hockey team, as Robert Morris will be in town on that weekend. 

“This is a historic moment for Penn State Hockey, our fans and the entire Penn State community,” Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft announced Friday. “To bring the excitement of college hockey to Beaver Stadium is truly special. Having our men’s program face a premier Big Ten opponent in Michigan State and our women’s program face Robert Morris on this stage reflects the incredible growth and national profile of Penn State Hockey and provides an unforgettable experience for our student-athletes, alumni and fans. We can’t wait to see Hockey Valley come alive in Beaver Stadium.”

“Our team and so many Penn Staters are extremely excited about this game in Beaver Stadium,” added Gadowsky. “It has been consistently asked of me since I arrived at Penn State, and I want to send thanks to Coach Franklin for sharing his home with us, as well as Dr. Pat Kraft, Vinnie James, and the entire Penn State Athletics Department for making it happen. We can’t wait to take the field!” 

Penn State is the current favorite to win it all

The Nittany Lions enter the new season as the betting favorites to win it all, as a +500 ticket on BetMGM currently. The addition of superstar forward and projected No. 1 2026 NHL Draft pick Gavin McKenna was made official over the summer. Gadowsky’s side also has a 2025 first-round pick in defenseman Jackson Smith, in addition to numerous other newcomers. Plenty of production returns, as well, from last year’s team. Put it all together, and expectations are higher than they’ve ever been for the Lions since they moved to the Division I ranks.

“This is Penn State,” Gadowsky said at an availability in July. “Penn State has very high expectations for all of its athletic programs and puts a lot of resources into that. This is not a new thing. Penn State has these kind of expectations. We did not have these expectations when you start as a club program, and I can tell you it’s better to have the expectations than not. This is where everybody wants to go.”

Penn State will open its regular season with a weekend trip to Arizona State on Oct. 3. The Nittany Lions are playing the back half of a home-and-home with the Sun Devils, who are the 11th favorite according to the betting odds.