Penn State hockey to host doubleheader at Beaver Stadium

For the first time, Penn State is bringing its hockey programs to an iconic venue.

Both the men’s and women’s hockey teams will play a game in Beaver Stadium on Jan. 31, the programs announced Friday.

The men will take on Big Ten powerhouse Michigan State, while the women will face in-state foe Robert Morris in the doubleheader.

It has long been a goal for athletic director Pat Kraft to bring non-football events to Beaver Stadium. The ongoing $700 million renovations to the facility have an eye toward improving luxury seating and other improvements for such events.

This first-of-its-kind hockey showcase follows a 2024 concert from country megastar Luke Combs, who drew more than 80,000 fans to the iconic State College facility.

“This is a historic moment for Penn State Hockey, our fans and the entire Penn State community,” Kraft said in a statement. “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.”

Penn State hockey has built some serious momentum over the past five months. The men overcame a winless nine-game start in Big Ten play to reach the NCAA tournament and eventually the first Frozen Four in program history.

Then, coach Guy Gadowsky hit the recruiting trail harder than anyone else in the country. He landed superstars Jackson Smith, the first first-round NHL Draft pick in program history, and Gavin McKenna, the consensus top overall pick in the 2026 draft. Several other Canadian talents joined the Nittany Lions thanks to an NCAA rule change this year.

The Penn State men begin their highly anticipated season — with national title hopes — on Oct. 3 at Arizona State.

“Our team and so many Penn Staters are extremely excited about this game in Beaver Stadium,” Gadowsky said in a statement. “It has been consistently asked of me since I arrived at Penn State, and I want to send thanks to Coach (James) 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!”

The women’s team set a program record with 31 wins last season, which saw a third-straight conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

Led by star Tessa Janecke, Penn State gets its season rolling on Sept. 25 vs. St. Lawrence.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our program and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our student-athletes,” RMU coach Logan Bittle said in a statement “Playing in an iconic venue like Beaver Stadium against a great conference opponent like Penn State is something that will create lasting memories and put our team on a fantastic stage.”