Hockey Valley crossed University Drive this past weekend. No. 5 Penn State men’s hockey took on No. 2 Michigan State in a long-awaited matchup in Beaver Stadium.
The event was years in the making and drew 74,575 fans, the second most in collegiate hockey history. Despite the Nittany Lions losing 5-4 in an overtime thriller, the environment was one that Penn Staters and hockey fans will remember for a long time.
Here is what our staffers had to say about the gameday experience.
Jason Perry
This was actually my first time watching a hockey game in person, and I have to say, please make this a yearly thing. It was cold, but it was worth it. I can’t compare it to an indoor hockey game, because I’ve never been to one, but in my opinion, it was still better than watching on TV. Even from the top of the stands, I found it easier to track the puck than watching online, and the feeling of being in the crowd is always better than watching by myself. It would have been even better if the Nittany Lions could have pulled off the win, but it was still an amazing atmosphere to watch hockey in.
Ella Wehmeyer
I loved Hockey Valley in the outdoors. More than 75,000 people packed into Beaver Stadium in below-freezing temperatures to watch a top-five hockey matchup, and it was an incredible experience. I truly think hockey at Beaver should happen every year. Even though we lost both games, it brought so much attention to the team and was an overall great experience.
Cadyn Gill
Considering the hype it had, I was disappointed by the hockey at Beaver Stadium experience on Saturday. While my toes being numb by the end of the first period was the primary driver for it being “meh,” the overall aesthetic was just not up to Penn State athletics standards in my opinion. On top of that, the line to get in with a student ticket was awful. People were shoving and pouring in from every direction, causing a 45+ minute wait just to get in. Though, overall, I commend the effort, because it certainly couldn’t have been easy. I truly appreciate giving students something fun in the boring dead of the spring semester.
Ally Eaton
Hockey Valley was everything I hoped it would be, minus the outcome. The energy on Friday leading into Saturday felt exactly like a football weekend, and I’ll never miss a chance to be inside Beaver Stadium with my best friends. Despite the frigid temperatures, the crowd was rocking, and I think it was an amazing experience to give to the hockey team and students, fans, and alumni alike. I hope this becomes an annual tradition for years to come.
Jordan Meckley
Watching the hockey game at Beaver Stadium was an unforgettable experience for me, especially because it was my first hockey game ever. Being outside made the cold impossible to ignore, and it felt very different from the football games I’m used to seeing in the same stadium. Instead of fall weather and packed bleachers full of fans in jerseys, I was bundled up, trying to stay warm while watching players skate across the ice.
Christian Gresko
Witnessing another tough ending in Beaver Stadium will never not be heartbreaking. There is so much passion at this school, and it’s infectious. When your team loses like that, all you can think of is the imaginary cloud hanging over you. While I was feeling that, too, I couldn’t stop thinking about how incredible this all is.
This hockey program is so young compared to those at other Division I schools. Beaver Stadium hosted the second-highest attended college hockey game ever, and it was a 8 minute walk, at most, from my dorm room. Even a year ago, this event was completely a pipe dream in my mind. It is the coolest atmosphere I have ever been a part of… period. I got to work the event as a videographer, and as I walked out of the tunnel with the team, I’ve never felt a feeling like that. Even with working the Penn State Whiteout this year.
I’m just so proud to be at Penn State. The whole event was incredible, and all I’m trying to look for is the positives. My reflection is nothing but “wow, I really got to experience that with my own eyes in such a unique way.” Even happier for the guys on the team to experience something like that. They dream about it their whole life, and it came true. You could see it all in their faces.
Jamie Lynch
Saturday was one of the coolest moments of my life.
Being on Onward State’s hockey beat, I had the privilege of covering the game from the press box. Seeing Beaver Stadium from above, full of Penn State hockey fans, was absolutely surreal.
The opening hype video that featured the Herb Brooks speech from Miracle gave me goosebumps, as did the roar of the crowd during the starting lineups and after each goal. It became clear that the college hockey universe now runs through Hockey Valley.
Covering the game was awesome as well. Being able to provide fans with updates on X was incredibly fun, although I owe a lot of that to the energy in the building and my cool binoculars.
But the best part of the day might have come after the game. Walking onto the field at Beaver Stadium and up to the boards was breathtaking. Trace McSorley walked right past me, and we even exchanged a greeting.
Same time next year?
Ashley Connington
I had so much fun at the game on Saturday. Even though I couldn’t feel my feet and it hurt to walk, it was amazing to be back in Beaver Stadium and it was one of the coolest sporting events I’ve been to.
Run it back.
Posts from the all-student staff of Onward State.