The success of the Beaver Stadium Outdoor Classic that was held on January 31 that was the second highest attended college hockey game of all time has gotten the attention of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
The NHL annually hosts its “Winter Classic” at an outdoor venue, Bettman fielded a question this week about the viability of Beaver Stadium hosting the league’s top outdoor classic.
“There’s been discussions over time. At some point, that’s something we’re interested in pursuing, but the renovations there have put things, for a period of time, on hold. But I would envision at some point we’ll make our way out to Happy Valley.”
The biggest social-media buzz of the week was Gavin McKenna was skating in Medicine Hat while wearing Penn State gear. McKenna was simply skating with former teammates. Even so, any glimpse of McKenna in Penn State colors is going to turn heads, especially given how much excitement surrounds the star forward about an upcoming decision about going professional or not.
Elsewhere, a former Nittany Lion is headed to a future Penn State opponent.
Arizona State announced that former Penn State forward Nic Chin-DeGraves is “Valley bound,” giving the Sun Devils another familiar face with Big Ten ties. For Penn State, that is the kind of move worth filing away now, because roster movement across college hockey keeps making old matchups feel a little more personal.
Chin-DeGraves appeared in all 37 games for Penn State this season registering nine points (3 goals, 6 assists).
On the schedule it appears Penn State will face out of conference Quinnipiac next season.
Quinnipiac Hockey Blog posted that the Bobcats’ out-of-conference slate includes games against New Hampshire and Merrimack at home, two at Maine, and a trip to Penn State. That is the kind of non-conference matchup that should carry some juice if it holds, given Quinnipiac’s profile and Penn State’s continued push to build its national schedule.
Then there is the goaltending picture.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.With Kevin Reidler going pro, one name keeps standing out: Ryder Fetterolf.
The Sewickley, Pennsylvania native and Penn State commit is coming off a tremendous 2025-26 season with the Ottawa 67’s. In 41 OHL games, Fetterolf went 29-9-3 with a 2.07 goals-against average, a .923 save percentage and six shutouts which set an Ottawa 67’s franchise record.
That stat line was not just good. It was elite, and it helped him win the Jim Rutherford Trophy as the OHL’s top goaltender.
That production is why Fetterolf remains such an intriguing piece of Penn State’s future.
Josh Fleming is expected to take over as Penn State’s primary goaltender while Fetterolf could be part of the program’s plans as soon as next season.
That does not guarantee anything about the depth chart, but it does show where the conversation is likely heading.
