Hockey Valley Hits the Big Stage: Penn State Set to Make History at Beaver Stadium
It’s been over a decade in the making, but on Saturday, Penn State hockey will finally have its moment under the bright lights-and in the open air-of Beaver Stadium.
Yes, that Beaver Stadium. The same iconic venue that’s played host to generations of White Outs and roaring fall Saturdays is trading turf for ice as No.
5 Penn State welcomes No. 2 Michigan State for a marquee Big Ten showdown that’s as much about the spectacle as it is about the standings.
For head coach Guy Gadowsky, who’s been at the helm since the program made the leap from club team to Division I, this moment isn’t just special-it’s personal.
“The question I’ve gotten the most since I got here? ‘When are we going to play a hockey game in Beaver Stadium?’”
Gadowsky said earlier this week. “Now, here we are.”
It’s not just a dream realized-it’s a logistical marvel. Pulling off an outdoor hockey game in a football stadium in the middle of a Pennsylvania winter is no small feat. Gadowsky credited the university, the athletic department, and the broader State College community for coming together to make it happen.
“I’m blown away,” he added. “This took the entire university. This took the entire community.”
And the timing couldn’t be better.
Penn State is coming off a historic run to the Frozen Four last season-the program’s first-and has parlayed that momentum into a red-hot 2025-26 campaign. The Nittany Lions are tied for first in the Big Ten standings and have rattled off seven straight wins, including a statement sweep of Wisconsin last weekend that marked their first-ever sweep of a top-five opponent.
That performance was punctuated by hat tricks from freshman phenom Gavin McKenna and veteran leader Dane Dowiak in Friday’s 7-2 win-marking the first time two Penn State players have notched hat tricks in the same game.
And now, the spotlight gets even brighter.
The matchup against Michigan State isn’t just a spectacle-it’s a showdown with serious implications. The Spartans, ranked No. 2 in the country, have been rolling too, with four straight wins and just one loss since early December. They swept Penn State in East Lansing back in November, giving the Lions plenty to think about as they retooled over the holiday break.
But this is a different Penn State team now. The roster is deep, dangerous, and balanced.
Returning stars like Aiden Fink, JJ Wiebusch, and captain Dane Dowiak have been steady forces, while the incoming class-bolstered by a major NCAA rule change-has added real firepower. That includes McKenna, a projected No. 1 overall NHL pick in 2026, and Jackson Smith, another likely first-rounder.
Add in skilled transfers and the Hobey Baker finalist Mac Gadowsky-yes, the coach’s son-and it’s no wonder Hockey Valley is buzzing.
And it’s not just the men’s team getting in on the action.
The No. 4 women’s hockey team will also take the ice at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, adding even more fuel to what’s shaping up to be a landmark day for the program. Both teams will wear special uniforms that pay tribute to Penn State football’s storied tradition, and the university is going all-in on the event. Fans have been invited to skate on the Beaver Stadium ice throughout the week, and festivities are planned around the stadium and nearby athletic facilities.
For the players, this isn’t just another game-it’s a memory in the making.
“It’s something I’m going to take in with my best friends-all 26 of them,” Dowiak said. “When you come to Penn State and you see that stadium, everyone kind of wonders, ‘Could we really play there one day?’ Now, we get to live that dream.”
Of course, dreams don’t win hockey games. Michigan State is a powerhouse, and Friday night’s series opener-set for a more traditional setting-will be a tone-setter before Saturday’s outdoor spectacle.
But make no mistake: this is more than just a game. It’s a celebration of how far Penn State hockey has come, and a glimpse at just how high this program can soar.
What You Need to Know
- Who: No. 5 Penn State (18-6-0, 10-4-0) vs.
No. 2 Michigan State (19-5-0, 10-4-0)
- All-Time Series: Tied 22-22-8; Spartans swept the November series in East Lansing
- When: Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m.
- How to Watch: Friday on Big Ten+ (subscription required), Saturday on Big Ten Network
This weekend, Hockey Valley gets its biggest stage yet. And if the Nittany Lions keep playing like they have been, it might just be the start of something even bigger.