When Guy Gadowsky first took the Penn State job in 2011, the vision was always there.

Pegula Ice Arena, situated in the shadow of Beaver Stadium, is the permanent home of Penn State hockey. And while Hockey Valley is just over a decade old, the building has already seen incredible successes within its confines.

But though Pegula may be shiny, modern, and host one of the university’s elite programs, its neighbor across the street will always be the emblematic of Penn State, and a landmark in college athletics.

Most never believed it to be possible. The prospect of playing a hockey game inside Beaver Stadium was always far-fetched, given the effort required to prepare the ice and other logistical issues. But on Saturday, the dream will finally become a reality when No. 2 Michigan State comes to town. 

“‘When are you guys going to play a hockey game in Beaver Stadium?’ was the most common question I’ve had,” Guy Gadowsky said. Dating back to day one in State College, media and fans would always question the coach about whether the undertaking would be attainable in the future.

“I just didn’t think it was possible,” he said.

Anyone who grows up in State College or has ventured into town knows the impact Penn State football’s home has on the community. The erector-set of a building is more than just a stadium; it’s a cathedral. 

Mac Gadowsky falls into this category. Having spent most of his life in Happy Valley, having the opportunity to play a game in Beaver Stadium is sure to be a surreal experience for the defenseman.  

When he went on his official tour of Penn State, the concept of taking the ice outdoors in front of a crowd of over 60,000 people was a thought in the back of his mind.

“You come on the visit, and you see Beaver, and you’re like ‘Wow, that is pretty special. It would be really cool to be able to play there,” he said.

Dane Dowiak shared a similar sentiment. Captaining the No. 5 team in the land in the Beaver Stadium game will be the honor of a lifetime for the junior.

“It’s definitely something that I’m going to take in. For me and my best friends, all 26 of them, it’s something we’ve all dreamed of when you come to Penn State,” he said.

Even Dowiak had his doubts about whether or not this experience would ever come to fruition. He recalls talking with alumni about the prospective game ever since he arrived on campus.

“The fact that we’re lucky enough to be able to do it this year, it’s really special,” he said. 

The decision to move Hockey Valley across University Drive for an afternoon was not sudden. Vinnie James, Penn State’s Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Operations, approached Guy Gadowsky last summer about the idea. 

James had to contact multiple departments across the university in order to have a chance of pulling the event off. Under his direction, as well as Pat Kraft’s, it became apparent that the time was right. Coming off a Frozen Four appearance, along with having a star-studded roster headlined by Gavin McKenna, if Penn State were to ever put on such an event, it couldn’t afford to wait.

“This takes the entire university, it takes the entire community,” Gadowsky said. “From ICA to EMS, fire, and police, so many different departments have to come together to make this happen. I’m blown away that they’re pulling it off.”

The spectacle that will unfold when Penn State enters the stadium to a sea of white will be more than an exciting atmosphere; it will mark the culmination of nearly 15 years of work building this program from scratch.

“There’s a lot of alumni that gave a lot of themselves to start the program and to build the program to what it is today,” Gadowsky said. “I think it’s going to be very prideful for a lot of them.”

Penn State pride is one of the university’s cornerstones. On Saturdays in the fall, Beaver Stadium is always rocking with passion and noise that is unparalleled anywhere else in the country. 

In fact, the men’s hockey team hopes some of the traditions and chants that make Penn State unique will make an appearance at the outdoor game.

“Be loud. Be loud and proud,” Dowiak said. “We want to hear all the ‘We Are’ chants we can. We’re going to put our best foot forward for the Penn State community, and for the Penn State logo.”

While many of the players have participated in outdoor games before, the team’s matchup against Notre Dame at Wrigley Field last season being one example, none have done so on the scope that is Beaver Stadium.

“It’s an honor just to even wear the sweater that we are able to wear every weekend, and it’s just going to be that much sweeter at Beaver Stadium,” he said. “I don’t know how many tickets they sold, 80,000, 70,000, or something like that. I guarantee neither me nor Mac [Gadowsky] will ever play in front of another fanbase like that in our lives.”

When the team walks out of the iconic Beaver Stadium gates on Saturday, it will symbolize just how much Guy Gadowsky and this program mean to the university. Hockey Valley is here in full force, and it’s here to stay as a pillar of Penn State athletics.

The players are looking forward to donning their new uniforms, designed specifically for the matchup, and will be dripped out in eye black and other stylish accessories for the occasion.

And while Gadowsky doesn’t like to pause and reflect on how far his team has come since its inception, it will be difficult to look out at the monochromatic mayhem without a high degree of awe.

“What an incredible university,” he said.