Penn State will usher in its 15th-anniversary season in historic fashion as the Nittany Lions make their first-ever appearance at the prestigious Ice Breaker Tournament to open the 2026-27 campaign.
The event is scheduled for October 9-10, 2026, and will be co-hosted by UConn and Sacred Heart at two of the newest venues in Division I college hockey: Toscano Family Ice Forum and Martire Family Arena.
Both arenas opened in 2023 and represent some of the sport’s most modern facilities, which debuted last year.
Joining Penn State in the four-team field is Bowling Green, with each program set to face both Connecticut-based hosts. The Nittany Lions open tournament play against UConn on October 9 before closing the event with Sacred Heart on October 10, while Bowling Green will skate the opposite schedule.
The Ice Breaker Tournament, first held in 1997 in Madison, Wisconsin, serves as the traditional launch of the college hockey season and typically features top programs from across multiple conferences.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.It is administered by College Hockey Inc. on behalf of the Hockey Commissioners Association.
This appearance marks Penn State’s first trip to UConn and Sacred Heart since its inaugural Division I season in 2012-13. The Nittany Lions topped Sacred Heart 6-3 on October 27, 2012, and later split a pair of games against UConn that January. The Huskies visited Hockey Valley the following season, resulting in a tie and a 7-1 PSU win, bringing the all-time series to 2-2-1—most recently renewed in the 2025 Allentown Regional Final, a 2-1 Penn State overtime victory.
The Nittany Lions also carry a perfect 6-0-0 record against Sacred Heart, last meeting in 2019 at Pegula Ice Arena.
