Penn State will make history with an outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University will be the scene of a historic event: its first ice hockey game. The Nittany Lions will play a double outdoor match on January 31, 2026, as announced by the institution on Friday. The men’s and women’s teams will face off in a double-header at the West Shore Home Field of Beaver Stadium. The men’s team will face Michigan State, in a rivalry match against the defending champion of the Big 10 tournament. For their part, the women’s team will play against Robert Morris University, their Atlantic Hockey America conference rival.Since the NHL began holding outdoor games annually in 2008, hockey fans have wanted to see one at Penn State’s football field, specifically, a game between in-state rivals the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, both with six outdoor game appearances. The capacity of Beaver Stadium for football games exceeds 106,000 spectators. The record for attendance at an outdoor NHL game is 105,491 fans, set at the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs. The NHL has considered holding an event at Beaver Stadium for the past 17 years. But it never committed to a Winter Classic or Stadium Series at Penn State due to facility challenges and financial considerations. The Beaver Stadium is undergoing a $700 million revitalization project, which continues during this college football season and is expected to be completed in 2027.This is a historic moment for Penn State hockey, our fans, and the entire Penn State community. Bringing the excitement of college hockey to Beaver Stadium is truly special.
Dr. Patrick Kraft, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University
Penn State began playing NCAA Division I college hockey in the 2012-13 season. In recent years, both programs have had considerable success. The men’s team has reached the NCAA tournament four times since 2017 and reached the Frozen Four for the first time last season, losing in the semifinals to Boston University. The women’s team has won its conference tournament and reached the NCAA tournament in three consecutive seasons.
The Penn State men’s team surprised the hockey world this offseason when 17-year-old phenom Gavin McKenna left Canadian junior hockey to join the Nittany Lions. McKenna, a forward, is the unanimous choice to be the number one pick in next summer’s NHL draft. McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the range” of $700,000.
