No. 4 Penn State hockey returns home to Pegula Ice Arena for a two-game series with Clarkson. The Nittany Lions will raise the Frozen Four banner tonight ahead of the home opener. Penn State is cautiously
optimistic this will be the season debut for 2025 NHL Draft first-round pick Jackson Smith after he missed last weekend’s games with an illness.
How to Watch
Who: Clarkson Golden Knights
When: Thursday, October 9 and Friday, October 10
Where: Pegula Ice Arena, State College, PA
Time: 6:30pm (Thursday), 7pm (Friday)
TV: Big Ten Network (Thursday), Big Ten Plus (Friday)
Radio: Penn State Sports Network
Projected Lineup
Gavin McKenna-Reese Laubach-Aiden Fink
Matt DiMarsico-Charlie Cerrato-JJ Wiebusch
Shea Van Olm-Luke Misa-Ben Schoen
Dane Dowiak-Nic Chin-DeGraves-Lev Katzin
Mac Gadowsky-Nolan Collins
Jackson Smith-Jarod Crespo
Carter Schade-Casey Aman
Kevin Reidler
Josh Fleming
Opponent Preview
Clarkson is led by second-year head coach JF Houle, who led the team to a 24-12-3 record last season. The Golden Knights lost 3-1 to Canisius in an uninspiring effort, although Clarkson has to replace a lot of scoring production from a season ago.
Talon Sigurdson (10 goals) is the leading returning goal scorer for Clarkson, but the team’s top three scorers from a year ago are all gone. Ayrton Martino (25 goals), Ryan Richardson (11 goals), and Ellis Rickwood (10 goals) combined for over a third of the team’s goals in 2024-25, and Clarkson must replace their production quickly to avoid falling too far behind this season.
Tristan Sarsland (8 goals and 15 assists) returns for a defense that finished No. 5 in the NCAA last season in shots allowed per game (24.6). With Ethan Langenegger moving on, Clarkson will have a new starter in net this season. Shane Soderwall started last week’s loss to Canisius and made 27 saves on 29 shots, making him the likely starter for Thursday’s game.
News & Notes
- Backup goaltender John Seifarth is no longer with the program. Penn State is down to just two goalies and will not be able to afford any injuries in net this season.
- Charlie Cerrato was named the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week for his six-point effort in the series against Arizona State.
- Guy Gadowsky is hopeful that Jackson Smith will make his Penn State debut tonight.
- Penn State released its home game promotional schedule for the 2025-26 season.
- Penn State is 4-1 all-time against Clarkson. The Nittany Lions won the most recent meeting, a 4-2 road win in 2023.
- Penn State is 9-2-1 in home openers at Pegula Ice Arena.
Prediction
Clarkson got embarrassed at home by a Canisius team that was one of the worst in the NCAA a season ago. The Golden Knights should have a better effort this weekend against what should be one of the best teams in the country in Penn State. That said, the Nittany Lions have a far more talented and experienced roster, and the atmosphere at Pegula should be outstanding for the home opener. Clarkson will put up a fight, but Penn State is the better team, and it should play out that way on the ice.
Penn State 5-2, 4-2
