For Penn State women’s hockey heading into the 2026-27 season, head coach Jeff Kampersal’s message is clear: new group, same expectations.

Kampersal spoke with members of the media Wednesday morning to answer questions about the team, injury updates, and upcoming challenges in Penn State’s season opener against Ohio State this week.

Kampersal strongly emphasized maintaining a high standard after the historic 2025-26 season, when the Nittany Lions reached the Frozen Four before losing to Wisconsin 4-3.

The Nittany Lions also won their fourth consecutive conference championship last season.

Kampersal pushed back against the narrative that motivation has suddenly increased based on last season’s success, saying motivation is always high because that’s the standard on and off the ice at Penn State.

He credited the recent graduating class with having imparted “a lot of knowledge and work ethic to the younger players,” and the motivation lies in extending that standard and work ethic to the newcomers who will look to make an impact.

“They’re already doing kind of things behind the scenes, like making sure that the standards are upheld on the ice, off the ice,” Kampersal said. “They’re learning how it’s supposed to be done by good humans, and so as a coach, you can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Still, the team faces significant turnover.

Seven Nittany Lions were drafted to the PWHL, and Kampersal described the group as completely different. However, that turnover doesn’t faze the team or Kampersal. The Nittany Lions head coach maintains full faith in the motivation his returning players have already instilled in the newcomers, and takes that into his coaching.

He’s also learned a lesson or two along the way.

Kampersal said he’s learned to take a few steps back during the season to see the full picture. He noted that over-coaching can be an issue for college athletes.

Kampersal also said he sees this motivation and high standard throughout the squad leading up to the season opener against Ohio State.

The team has been showing up in the weight room, with forward McKenna Walsh breaking the team’s push-up record. He also mentioned the physicality the team has shown in practice and preseason as they prepare for a physical opponent in No. 2 Ohio State.

“When we played them last year, it was a crazy physical, full-body contact, little penalties, and so I’m assuming it’s going to be a lot of the same tomorrow night,” Kampersal said. “We do a lot of small battles in practice, like one‑on‑one, two‑on‑two competitions along the boards.”

Additionally, the Nittany Lions have already received a warm-up in their preseason game.

“[RIT] plays a really physical style as well,” Kampersal said. “So it was good to get that scrimmage under their belt as well … because, you know, that’ll help us for this coming series.”

The team doesn’t consider itself a group thrown into working harder by circumstance; they believe in their abilities, and their success has been the fruit of years of high standards.

They have a clear plan in place and are executing it, rather than repeating last year. The Nittany Lions’ standards are high and ready to be tested.

No. 4 Penn State women’s hockey will begin its season at Pegula Ice Arena at 6 p.m. Thursday against Big Ten opponent No. 2 Ohio State.

It will also be “Raise the Banner” night at Pegula, commemorating last season’s AHA championship.