Penn State will make history with an outdoor hockey game at Beaver Stadium
The Beaver Stadium at Pennsylvania State University will be the venue for the first hockey game in its history. The Nittany Lions will play a double outdoor game on January 31, 2026, the university announced on Friday. The men’s and women’s teams will compete in a double header at the West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. The men’s team will face Michigan State, in a rivalry match against the two-time defending Big 10 tournament champion. The women’s team will take on Robert Morris University, their Atlantic Hockey America conference rivals.Since the NHL began holding annual outdoor games in 2008, hockey fans have clamored for one at Penn State’s football stadium, specifically a game between in-state rivals Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, who have each participated in six outdoor games. Beaver Stadium’s capacity for football is over 106,000 fans. 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 holding a Winter Classic or a Stadium Series at Penn State due to facility issues and financial considerations. Beaver Stadium is undergoing a $700 million revitalization project, which continues during this college football season and is expected to be completed in 2027. The NHL is interested in holding an outdoor game between the Penguins and the Flyers at Beaver Stadium after the renovation is finished. Penn State began playing NCAA Division I college hockey in the 2012-13 season. In recent years, both programs have enjoyed considerable success. The men’s team has participated in 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 for three consecutive seasons.“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 something truly special,” said Dr. Patrick Kraft, Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at the school.
Dr. Patrick Kraft
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 number one in next summer’s NHL draft.
McKenna’s NIL money for attending Penn State is “in the range” of $700,000, according to a source. To add a bit of intrigue to the game at Beaver Stadium next season: Michigan State was the runner-up in McKenna’s commitment to the NCAA with an NIL offer of around $200,000 to $300,000.
