What time, TV channel, is Penn State hockey on tonight at Arizona State? How to watch Gavin McKenna's debut

October is here, which means college hockey is back. Penn State starts its most hyped season in the program’s 13-year run as a Division I program tonight when it takes on Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. The Nittany Lions have their highest preseason ranking ever at No. 5, and the projected No. 1 2026 NHL Draft pick, forward Gavin McKenna, on their roster. The No. 14 Sun Devils will have a 2025 first round pick on the ice in forward Cullen Potter. PSU will, too, in defensemen Jackson Smith.

“It’s awesome that we’re playing such a good team, a team from last year with even more talent than they had than they did,” Arizona State coach Greg Powers said this week. “So it’s gonna be a great barometer to see where we are, but it’s gonna be great for our fans and everybody that’s going to be in the building. I know it’s gonna be a tough ticket, but they’re going to see college hockey’s very best right away out of the gates this year.”

Penn State is 7-1 all-time against Arizona State. The two schools last met in 2020.

“Obviously, our end goal is to win a national championship, but what we got to do first is win that first game at Arizona State, and I think that’s that’s really what we’re focused on now,” junior forward and captain Dane Dowiak told reporters this week. “Like you said, there’s a lot of new faces, and it’s going to take some time to get used to. It’s like that every year. So I think the more that we can just focus on game one, taking it day by day in practice, and putting our best foot forward; I think we just got to focus on ourselves right now.”

How to watch Penn State at Arizona State on Friday night

Penn State and Arizona State will play in front of a national and global audience. The game will be broadcast on cable and satellite providers. And, it will be streamed worldwide, as well. Find the details to know below:

Matchup: No. 5 Penn State at No. 14 Arizona State

Date: Fri., Oct. 3

Time: 10 p.m. ET

TV: NHL Network

Stream: NHL on YouTube

Radio: Penn State Sports Network (Coverage starts with play-by-play announcer Brian Tripp at 9:40 p.m. ET)

Discuss: Nittany Lion fans can discuss the PSU hockey season and more inside The Lions Den forum. Click here to access it.