After a slow weekend to start the 2026-27 season, Penn State looks to bounce back. The Nittany Lions comes off two losses, one to No. 16/14 UConn and the second to Sacred Heart in the 2026 Ice Breaker Tournament in Storrs, Conn.
Continuing on with non-conference play, Penn State faces another ranked opponent in No. 8/7 Quinnipiac. This is the only game this weekend for the blue and white as their next contest is vs. Robert Morris on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. EDT. They will also have home ice advantage in that matchup.
Here's everything you need to know about the Nittany Lions vs. the Bobcats.
How to watch Penn State vs. No. 8/7 Washington
- Date: Friday, Oct. 16
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Pegula Ice Arena (University Park, Pa.)
- How to Watch (TV): Big Ten+
- Penn State record: 0-2-0
- Quinnipiac record: 3-1-0
Penn State injury update and report
Just two games into the season and Penn State is down a forward. Keaton Peters sustained a season-ending injury in his first shift of his first game back in which he sustained a torn ACL, a torn MCL, and meniscus injuries. This is a heartbreaking way for the junior's season to end as he was also sidelined for the 2025-26 season due ACL reconstructive surgery.
Defenseman Charlie Michaud, who was the extra skater listed on the lineup in that first game, stepped in to play forward. How head coach Guy Gadowsky goes about filling in Peters' role long-term is yet to be seen.
There are no known injuries over on Quinnipiac's bench.
Penn State vs. Quinnipiac series history
The Nittany Lions and Bobcats have only played each other once before. The last time they met, Quinnipiac took the win at home in Hamden, Conn. It beat Penn State 3-2 in that contest, and the Nittany Lions look to tie up the all-time series with a win at Pegula Ice Arena.
This will also be the first game Penn State hosts not only in the series, but in the 2026-27 season.
Key Nittany Lion and Bobcat to watch
Penn State
- Forward Justin Larose
The freshman is off to a good start in Happy Valley. In two games, Larose has logged one goal and one assist. His two-point start to the season is good for second on the team behind fellow freshman forward Kale Dach (two goals, one assist) and sophomore forward Justin Poirier (three assists).
His first goal of the year came against Sacred Heart, and it was impressive enough to land a spot on the SportsCenter Top 10 at No. 4. Larose corralled the puck behind the net and quickly flicked it up and behind goaltender Ajeet Gundarah. This brought the Nittany Lions within one of Sacred Heart, cutting the deficit to 3-2 in the third period.
“Will you accept this Larose?!” 🌹🏒#SCTop10 No. 4️⃣ | @SportsCenter #WeAre #HockeyValley pic.twitter.com/FA3Ynqfkaz
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) October 11, 2026
Quinnipiac
- Forward Ethan Whyttenbach
Whyttenbach is off to an outstanding start to the very young 2026-27 season. He leads the Bobcats with eight points in four games on three goals and five assists. One of these goals was the first scored in the contest (vs. New Hampshire, two goals and one assist) and another was a game-winner for Quinnipiac (at Maine, one goal and one assist). Whyttenbach has had 12 shots, leading the team, and a .250 shot percentage (tied fourth). He's logged at least one point in every game so far.
“He has an unbelievable ability to get behind the defense to make things happen,” Gadowsky told reporters, per Kyle Golik of Nittany Sports Now. “He’s as good as I’ve seen getting behind defensemen.”
Add us as a preferred source on Google