Clarkson Opens Road Trip at No. 4 Penn State on Thursday Night

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA — The Clarkson University Men's Hockey team continues its early-season non-conference schedule tonight with a major test on the road, visiting fourth-ranked Penn State at Pegula Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.

The Golden Knights enter the weekend looking to bounce back after a 3–1 setback in their season opener against Canisius. With several new faces in the lineup, Clarkson showed flashes of potential but aims to find more consistency against one of the top offensive teams in the nation.

Penn State, meanwhile, returns home for its first game in front of its fans after opening the year with a road sweep at Arizona State. The Nittany Lions outscored the Sun Devils 9–5 across two contests, showcasing the depth and energy that have become trademarks of the program under head coach Guy Gadowsky.

A New-Look Golden Knight Squad for Head Coach, JF Houle, dressed 8 new skaters last Friday and will do the same tonight vs Penn St.   The early portion of the schedule will provide valuable experience for newcomers, including a goaltending tandem led by Shane Soderwall, who made 26 saves in his Clarkson debut.  The Knights will be bolstered by the return of defenseman, Tate Taylor, who was named ECAC ALL ROOKIE last season.

The Nittany Lions come into the contest ranked No. 4 nationally and riding momentum from a perfect opening weekend. Penn State's balanced attack has featured strong performances from Charlie Cerrato, Matt DiMarsico, and JJ Wiebusch, while freshman Gavin McKenna has quickly made his mark with points in both games to start his collegiate career.

Penn State's power play has clicked early, converting twice last weekend, and the penalty kill has been near flawless. The Lions also boast a deep defensive group that has limited opponents to just over two goals per game.

Tonight's game marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two programs. Penn State holds a 4–1–0 edge in the series, though the teams haven't met since the 2022–23 season. This matchup also opens Homecoming Weekend in Happy Valley, adding to the atmosphere expected inside Pegula Ice Arena.

Clarkson and Penn State will complete their two-game series on Friday night, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.  Friday's game will be aired on Big10+.  Both games can be heard live on B9.3 FM with Bob Ahlfeld on the call.