Penn State men’s hockey returns to Pegula Ice Arena Tuesday night searching for its first victory of the 2026-27 season against a familiar in-state opponent.
After opening the season with three consecutive losses, Guy Gadowsky’s Nittany Lions (0-3-0) welcome Robert Morris (0-4-0) to Hockey Valley for a 6 PM matchup between two programs still looking to get into the win column.
Penn State’s latest setback came Friday against No. 8 Quinnipiac, when the Nittany Lions surrendered six unanswered goals after building an early 2-0 advantage in an eventual 6-3 defeat.
The loss exposed familiar concerns surrounding Penn State’s defensive consistency and special teams, particularly after Quinnipiac converted four of seven power-play opportunities.
Robert Morris presents a different challenge. The Colonials have struggled offensively, averaging just 1.25 goals per game, but Penn State must demonstrate it can turn a favorable matchup into a complete performance.
SERIES INFO
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Place: Pegula Ice Arena | University Park, Pa.
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Streaming: B1G+
Radio: Penn State Sports Network | Legends 104.3
Series Record: Penn State leads 8-4-0
Tuesday marks the 13th meeting between Penn State and Robert Morris and the first since January 11, 2020, when the Nittany Lions defeated the Colonials 6-2.
Penn State has dominated the recent series, winning six consecutive meetings while outscoring Robert Morris 38-17, an average of 6.33 goals per contest.
The Nittany Lions are 3-1 against Robert Morris in Hockey Valley, including a perfect 3-0 record at Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State’s lone home loss against the Colonials came at Greenberg Ice Pavilion during its inaugural Division I season.
Historically, Penn State has also enjoyed considerable success against Atlantic Hockey opponents, compiling a 53-18-2 record.
However, the Nittany Lions are 0-1 against the conference this season following their 6-3 loss to Sacred Heart.
ROBERT MORRIS NOTES
Robert Morris enters Tuesday looking to reverse an 0-4 start under a difficult offensive stretch.
The Colonials have scored just five goals through four games while surrendering 15, averaging 1.25 goals scored and 3.75 allowed per contest.
Generating offensive opportunities has been particularly challenging.
Robert Morris averages just 20.25 shots per game, ranking 54th among the 57 Division I programs that have begun play this season.
The Colonials are also struggling on special teams, converting just one of 11 power-play opportunities for a 9.1% success rate.
Robert Morris is in its fourth season since reinstating its hockey program following a two-year hiatus.
The Colonials finished 16-21-3 last season, their highest victory total since returning to competition.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Robert Morris returns three of its top five scorers but must replace leading scorer Tanner Klimpke, who transferred to Maine after recording 16 goals and 31 points last season.
Jackson Reineke is the team’s leading returning scorer after finishing with 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points. He has two assists through four games this season.
In goal, sophomore Charlie Schenkel remains a bright spot despite the Colonials’ struggles.
The 6-foot-6 netminder has started all four games, posting a .906 save percentage and 3.87 goals-against average.
Schenkel recorded a .909 save percentage and 2.80 goals-against average in 30 starts last season.
His ability to withstand pressure could become important against a Penn State team averaging nearly 34 shots per game.
PENN STATE NOTES
Penn State’s revamped roster continues experiencing growing pains, particularly defensively.
The Nittany Lions have surrendered 15 goals through three games, including six apiece against Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac.
Special teams have emerged as a significant concern.
Penn State has killed just nine of 13 penalties for a 69.2% success rate, a substantial decline from last season’s Big Ten-leading 83.7% penalty kill.
Offensively, the Nittany Lions have generated 101 shots but scored just seven goals, producing a 6.9% shooting percentage.
Freshman Kale Dach leads Penn State with four points, while Maine transfer Justin Poirier has contributed three assists.
Freshman Justin Larose leads the Nittany Lions with 15 shots and provided an early spark against Quinnipiac with his first-period breakaway goal.
Penn State continues adjusting to significant roster turnover after losing 13 players, including 63% of its scoring and 60% of its goals from last season.
Goaltending has also been inconsistent.
Sophomore Josh Fleming is 0-2 with a 4.07 goals-against average, while freshman Ryder Fetterolf is 0-1 with a .895 save percentage.
Fleming entered the season after establishing a program record with a .924 save percentage last year, while Fetterolf arrived as the reigning CHL and OHL Goaltender of the Year.
Penn State has opened 0-3 for just the second time in program history and the first since 2020-21.
The Nittany Lions entered the season ranked No. 17 nationally but have since fallen out of the USCHO Top 20, receiving 41 votes in Monday’s poll.
Tuesday’s matchup provides an opportunity to establish momentum before Canisius visits Pegula Ice Arena for a two-game series Friday and Saturday.
For Penn State, the priority extends beyond securing its first victory.
The Nittany Lions need to demonstrate improved defensive structure, more disciplined special teams and an ability to sustain the offensive momentum that disappeared against Quinnipiac.
