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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State Nittany Lions close out their four-game homestand as the Canisius Golden Griffins come to town for a weekend set at Pegula Ice Arena.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Dates: Friday, October 23 | Saturday, October 24
Place: Pegula Ice Arena - University Park, Pa.
Time: 7 p.m. | 5 p.m.
Tickets: Friday | Saturday
Streaming Video: Friday | Saturday
Listen: LionVision
Live Statistics: Live Stats
Game Notes: Penn State | Canisius
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUP
This weekend marks the 10th and 11th meetings in the all-time series with Penn State holding the 8-1-0 record following five consecutive wins. The team's last meet during the 2024-25 season as Penn State earned the sweep with 4-0 and 3-2 wins in Hockey Valley. The Nittany Lions are 7-1-0 against Canisius all-time in Hockey Valley as only the first-ever meeting between the two programs in 2015 took place outside of Pegula Ice Arena.
Penn State is 0-4 to open the season for just the second time in program history and first time since the 2020-21 season. The Nittany Lions began that campaign 0-5-0 before registering their first victory.
The Nittany Lions are now 53-19-2 all-time against Atlantic teams following the two losses so far this season to Sacred Heart and Robert Morris.
Sophomore Jackson Smith has assists in three-straight games for the Nittany Lions tying his career long point and assist streaks.
Sophomore Justin Poirier leads the team with five points over the first four games with points in three of the four including a pair of multi-point efforts. Poirier scored both Nittany Lion goals, his first in a Penn State uniform, on Tuesday night.
Freshman Justin Larose is currently riding a three-game point streak of his own after collecting the primary assist on Poirier's first goal on Tuesday.
SCOUTING CANISIUS
Canisius finished the 2025-26 season 17-16-2 losing to Mercyhurst, 5-2, in the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey Championship. This season the Golden Griffins are 3-2-1 and enter the weekend after splitting at Clarkson last weekend.
The Griffs have seen a balanced offensive attack through six games this season with 18 players having registered at least one point and 12 players with a goal including six with two goals.
Freshman goaltender Jack Lisson has started his collegiate career strong posting a 3-2-1 record in six games with four starts while posting a .926 save percentage and a 2.05 goals-against average.
Canisius is averaging and allowing 3.00 goals per game through the first six games this season.
The Griffs have a struggling powerplay converting at just 12.5 percent (3-for-24) while the PK has stopped 78.9 percent (15-for-19) of opponent chances.
The Griffs have 10 seniors and are the second oldest team in the country with an average age of 22 years and 10 months. Penn State is the 11th youngest team in the nation with an average age of 21 years and 6 months.
2026-27 AUDIO BROADCASTS
Audio broadcasts for all Penn State hockey games for the 2026-27 season are available on the Penn State Sports Network via radio affiliates and streaming on GoPSUsports.com.
Former Nittany Lion goaltender Chris Funkey and 2017-18 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Trevor Hamilton return to join play-by-play broadcaster Brian Tripp for most games throughout the season.
Funkey will return to Hockey Valley and join Tripp on the call for both games this weekend.
PARKING ADVISORY
Parking for all athletics events requires a valid university permit or payment of an applicable parking fee. Parking can be purchased in advance (by 11:59 p.m. the day prior to each event) at a discounted rate on ParkWhiz. Parking can also be purchased at full price on game day on ParkWhiz.
Parking for men's ice hockey games at Pegula Ice Arena can be found in the Stadium West, Jordan East, and Porter North lots.
Parking for all non-football athletics events is managed by Penn State Transportation services.
With the annual Homecoming Parade and an event in the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, October 10, heavy traffic and parking congestion is expected around Pegula Ice Arena. Hockey fans are encouraged to park in the Stadium West parking lot and purchase their parking by 11:59 p.m. Thursday in order to receive the discounted parking rate as parking on Friday will be $20 night-of due to the Bryce Jordan Center event.
NEXT UP
Penn State hits the road to begin Big Ten play with a Halloween Weekend series in Minnesota against the Gophers.