Beaver Stadium has long been the crown jewel of Penn State athletics. Football weekends dominate the fall, pulling students and alumni into a pit of white and navy. But after two straight losses, the energy around football feels dimmer than usual. The question lingers in the student section and across campus: If football falters, where should our pride go?
The answer is already waiting at Pegula Ice Arena.
Program On The Rise
Penn State men’s ice hockey has quietly built itself into one of the most exciting programs in the country. The team skates into every season with speed and a passionate fan base that is growing louder with every puck drop.
Unlike football, where seats sprawl across a 100,000-plus stadium, hockey thrives in a packed arena where every goal feels electric. Students are right on top of the action, chanting and waving cowbells as the blue and white charge the net.
From Newcomer To Contender
Hockey’s rise at Penn State is no accident. Since the program became Division I in 2012, the Nittany Lions have developed a reputation for upsetting giants and competing in one of the toughest conferences in college hockey. The program already has multiple NCAA tournament appearances under its belt. While football searches for answers, hockey offers results.
Gavin McKenna
The arrival of Gavin McKenna may be the moment that defines the next chapter of Penn State hockey. McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, committed to PSU for the 2025-26 season. During his second game as a Nittany Lion against ASU, he scored his first NCAA goal.
Coach Guy Gadowsky called McKenna “a huge thing” for Penn State and for college hockey, praising not only his physical talent but also his hockey mind — the ability to slow the game and create under pressure. McKenna’s decision also comes amid a rule change allowing CHL players to choose NCAA hockey, a shift that opens new recruiting doors for programs like Penn State.
Pegula’s Energy
The vibe inside Pegula on a Friday night is unlike anything else on campus. It is fast, it is loud and it is ours. Students camp outside for tickets, paint their faces and bring the same spirit that fills Beaver Stadium, only this time it’s magnified by the intimacy of the rink.
The Roar Zone and student section have become a force in their own right. Chants echo across the ice, rattling opponents and giving the Lions a true home-ice advantage.
Time For A Shift
If Penn State prides itself on being a school with traditions, then why not embrace a new one? Shifting the spotlight to hockey does not mean abandoning football, it means broadening the definition of what it means to support Penn State athletics.
For too long, hockey has been the overlooked sibling. With football on shaky ground and the arrival of McKenna, the timing is ideal to rally behind the team that is already showing it can win.
Penn State has the chance to be more than a football school. It can be a hockey school.
The rink is waiting. All that is left is for us to show up.
Will you be supporting Penn State hockey this year? Let us know on X, @VALLEYmag !
1 Comment