Penn State men’s hockey announced its 2026-27 non-conference schedule and Big Ten game weekends this afternoon:
The Nittany Lions begin the regular season on October 9 and 10 against UConn and Sacred Heart at the Ice Breakers Tournament in Connecticut. The home opener is set for October 16th against Quinnipiac
in what is expected to be Penn State’s marquee non-conference game of the season. Anyone hoping to catch a home hockey game the Friday before a home football game will have to wait another season, as the hockey team will be away or idle on all home football weekends.
Unlike last year, there will be no extended holiday break. The longest break will be 19 days- from the December 12 home game against Army until the New Year’s Eve matchup with Niagara. Penn State will also host Princeton on Black Friday.
Penn State opens Big Ten play on the road against Minnesota, who struggled last season but is poised to rebound under new head coach Brett Larson. The only home series in the first half of conference play are against Notre Dame and Ohio State, who finished at the bottom of the Big Ten last season. Penn State will have all of its road series against Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin completed by mid-January. The back half of Big Ten play will not be easy, but it will help to have the toughest games at home down the stretch.
Please note that while all conference game weekends have been finalized, not all of the dates are exact yet. Games can be scheduled for any days Thursday-Sunday on the weekend specified. Dates will likely be filled in after other fall and winter sports schedules are finalized. Game times and TV designations are TBA at this time.
