At Pegula Ice Arena, where cowbells ring and white shakers fill the Roar Zone student section, Bella Klekner and Troy LaPolice found more than just a shared love for hockey; they found love for one another.

Before their time at Happy Valley, the couple were both big fans of the competitive sport. LaPolice was immersed in college hockey culture during his years at the University of New Hampshire for his undergrad degree. Klekner, on the other hand, grew up an avid New York Rangers fan and transferred that same spirit when she began rooting for the Nittany Lions.

Their story began at a Roar Zone meeting, the official Penn State hockey student section, during the height of COVID-19.

“When I first saw him, I was like, he’s adorable, but also I thought it was cool he had done the cowbell tradition at his university, where he did his undergrad. I was like, there’s no way someone has done this before here, since it’s a big part of the Roar Zone. It was like the role was meant to be for him,” said Klekner.

Troy, on the other hand, first noticed his fiancée through her media work. “When she applied to be the Roar Zone’s social media coordinator, I immediately thought she was perfect for the role,” said LaPolice. 

Initially, their reactions at the Roar Zone meetings were brief. However, one night, while the couple was painting banners for the Ohio State game, everything changed for them. After sitting side by side for an hour, painting the massive banner, the two began to talk.

“That was really the first time we spent extended time together,” said Klekner. “We just clicked.”

From there, Roar Zone texting turned into daily conversations, a friendship, and then so much more.

Soon, Pegula became more than just a venue; it became the centerpiece of their relationship. Some of their favorite memories come directly from the electric atmosphere inside the rink. However, the couple agrees that the University of Michigan game, which ended in a dramatic comeback, was easily their favorite game to witness together. “That game quickly became one of the loudest environments I’ve been in,” said LaPolice. 

At the time, LaPolice was serving as the Roar Zone president while Klekner worked on social media, making every game more meaningful as they led the student section together.

However, their most unforgettable Pegula Arena memory didn’t happen during a game; it happened on the ice.

Under the guise of taking graduation photos for the couple’s master’s and Ph.D degrees, LaPolice carefully planned a proposal at Pegula Arena. With the help of friends, a photographer, and supportive arena staff, LaPolice arranged for private access onto the ice for some photos. 

When asked if she knew the proposal was coming, Klekner responded that she had her suspicions.

“I had hinted at it so many times that I wanted it to happen somewhere on campus,”  she admitted. “But having it at Pegula, well It just felt like the perfect place for our story.” 

As part of the photoshoot, the photographer and close friend, Jeffrey Fyola, asked Klekner to turn away from LaPolice, setting up the scene. When she turned back around, LaPolice was down on his knee.

“I kind of went into shock,” said Klekner. “I remember him asking me, but everything else was a blur.”

Moments after saying yes, another surprise followed: both of their families emerged from the stands. While Klekner knew her parents were in town, she had no idea LaPolice’s family had traveled eight hours to be there. “It made it even more special,” said Klekner. 

The celebration didn’t stop there as the couple, their families, and their friends revealed stories about the surprise over dinner. Since then, the excitement has continued to grow. Friends, extended family, and members of the Roar Zone, both past and present, have all congratulated the couple; many of whom were eagerly awaiting the proposal.

After years of shared memories, leadership roles, and countless games together, the couple is now preparing for their next chapter. Following graduation, the couple will be heading to Princeton University as they begin this new chapter together. 

Still, their roots in Happy Valley remain stronger than ever before. As they begin to plan their wedding, the couple has already mentioned that those classic Happy Valley traditions will be a part of the big day. From the White Out shakers to the sounds of “Zombie Nation,” the couple is forever grateful for their time at Penn State and looks forward to coming back to hockey games in the future, only this time married.