Penn State Women’s Hockey Embracing Historic Game at Beaver Stadium

This upcoming weekend will mark a first for Penn State women’s hockey.

The Nittany Lions are set to play their first-ever hockey game at Beaver Stadium on Friday afternoon, as one of the nation’s most iconic football venues turns into a hockey rink that will also host a men’s game on Saturday. The stage is unlike anything seen before at Penn State, and head coach Jeff Kampersal is excited to be part of such a memorable moment.

“It’s an amazing historic place to be able to play, on the same field as some of the great athletes at Penn State,” Kampersal said.

No. 4 Penn State, which clinched its fourth straight CHA regular season title last weekend, will take on Robert Morris with the first matchup of the two-game series taking place outside. With a vastly different environment to prepare for, Kampersal has a lot on his plate, but he’s making sure to keep his cool and not make the moment bigger than it already is.

“Regardless of whether it’s shinny hockey, at Pegula or at Beaver, you still need to win your battles and compete.”

The opportunity has electrified the program, with Kampersal spotlighting how skating at Beaver Stadium mirrors how many of his players fell in love with hockey.

“They grew up playing on ponds, on lakes,” he remarked. “This is gonna like bring them back to childhood and those memories.”

Playing in such an unique and grand setting could give women’s hockey greater visibility in the public eye. Both the Nittany Lions men’s and women’s teams will take the ice at Beaver this weekend, with both deserving of recognition. With such a talented team, Kampersal emphasized the importance of giving girls in women’s sports, not just at Penn State but across the country, time in the limelight.

“We have super-talented, successful women’s ice hockey players. So I would like to see more people paying attention to them,” Kampersal noted. “Both programs are legitimate, and both programs will produce pro players, Olympic players.”

While the scene will be one-of-a-kind for the Nittany Lions, Kampersal brings the moment back to its simplest form.

“At the end of the day, it’s about having fun, enjoying the sport that you love.”

No. 4 Penn State women’s hockey will take on Robert Morris at Beaver Stadium on Friday, January 30, with puck drop being slated for 1 p.m. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.