Penn State men’s hockey on Thursday afternoon announced its full 2026-27 slate, featuring four games against each Big Ten opponent and some intriguing nonconference matchups.
The Nittany Lions kick off their campaign at the 2026 Ice Breaker Tournament in Connecticut, with games against UConn on Oct. 9 and Sacred Heart on Oct. 10. The following weekend Quinnipiac will visit for Penn State’s home opener on Oct. 16.
The blue and white will welcome Robert Morris for a mid-week matchup on Oct. 20 before hosting a pair of games against Canisuis on Oct. 23 and 24. Up next, conference play begins with a pair of road contests against Minnesota for Halloween weekend. Exact dates for conference series aren’t announced, but will take place between Thursday and Sunday, meaning two games between Oct. 29 and Nov. 1.
The Nittany Lions will head back to Pegula Ice Arena to host Notre Dame between Nov. 5-8 before returning to the road for series against Michigan (Nov. 12-15) and Wisconsin (Nov. 19-22). Penn State will then host Princeton for a nonconference game on Nov. 27 to round out the month.
The Nittany Lions will play a home-and-home series with Army on Dec. 10 and 12, though it’s unclear which game will be in State College.
Following a break, they’ll return to action with another home-and-home series, welcoming Niagara on New Year’s Eve before visiting the Purple Eagles on Jan. 2. Big Ten play returns the following weekend with a home series against Ohio State (Jan. 7-10) before a series at Michigan State (Jan. 14-17).
Penn State then welcomes Wisconsin (Jan. 21-24) before making a trip to the Fighting Irish to close out the month (Jan. 28-31). That will be followed by a return trip to Robert Morris on Feb. 6 after hosting the Colonials previously in October, marking the final out-of-conference clash.
The Nittany Lions will host the Golden Gophers (Feb. 11-14) and the Spartans (Feb. 18-21) before making their final road trip to face the Buckeyes (Feb. 25-28). The regular season will wrap up with a pair of home games against the Wolverines on March 4-5.
Dates for the Big Ten Tournament haven’t been announced, but the NCAA Tournament will commence with regional rounds from March 25-28, followed by the Frozen Four on April 8-10.
The full schedule is summarized below.
- Oct. 9 at UConn
- Oct. 10 at Sacred Heart
- Oct. 16 vs. Quinnipiac
- Oct. 20 vs. Robert Morris
- Oct. 23-24 vs. Canisius
- Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Minnesota (two games)
- Nov. 5-8 vs. Notre Dame (two games)
- Nov. 12-15 at Michigan State (two games)
- Nov. 19-22 at Wisconsin (two games)
- Nov. 27 vs. Princeton
- Dec. 10-12 home-and-home with Army
- Dec. 31-Jan. 2 home-and-home with Niagara
- Jan. 7-10 vs. Ohio State (two games)
- Jan. 14-17 at Michigan State (two games)
- Jan. 21-24 vs. Wisconsin (two games)
- Jan. 28-31 at Notre Dame (two games)
- Feb. 6 at Robert Morris
- Feb. 11-14 vs. Minnesota (two games)
- Feb. 18-21 vs. Michigan State (two games)
- Feb. 25-28 at Ohio State (two games)
- March 4-5 vs. Michigan
