Penn State men’s hockey is headed to an NHL arena for a marquee matchup against Army this December.
The Nittany Lions will face the Black Knights in the inaugural “Hockey Knight in Jersey” on Thursday, Dec. 10, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The matchup will mark the first NCAA Division I men’s hockey game at the home of the New Jersey Devils since 2014.
The game will also help kick off a major weekend of college sports in the New York metropolitan area. Two days later, Army and Navy will meet for the 127th edition of their football rivalry at MetLife Stadium.
For Penn State, the neutral-site matchup provides another opportunity to showcase a program that has continued to grow nationally under head coach Guy Gadowsky.
“Playing in a major city and an NHL arena gives our student-athletes a tremendous experience while also showcasing college hockey on a bigger stage,” Gadowsky said.
Gadowsky also pointed to Penn State’s following throughout New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area, giving alumni and fans who may not regularly make the trip to Hockey Valley an opportunity to see the Nittany Lions.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Penn State enters the 2026-27 season coming off a 21-14-2 campaign and an appearance in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions have now reached three of the past four NCAA Tournaments after making the program’s first Frozen Four in 2025.
Army finished 12-17-6 last season during Zach McKelvie’s first year as head coach. The Black Knights return Atlantic Hockey America Goaltender of the Year JJ Cataldo, who was also a first-team all-conference selection.
The matchup will be the first college hockey event at Prudential Center since the 2014 Liberty Hockey Invitational.
Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Sept. 9, at noon ET through Ticketmaster.
