How Penn State hockey matches up against Boston University in the Frozen Four

Coaches and players alike insist it’s business as usual, it’s just that the business of the season’s 40th game will be happening on the biggest stage ever for the Penn State hockey program.

When the puck drops as Penn State meets Boston University in the second of two national semifinals Thursday night during the Frozen Four in St. Louis, some 18,000 fans may attend at the Enterprise Center. That’ll be the largest crowd of the season to watch a Penn State game, and one of the largest in program history.

Plus, there will be a national television audience on ESPN2 with as many as another 400,000 viewers.

With traditional national power Boston University as the competition, Penn State’s focus will clearly be on the ice —although and the Nittany Lions’ efforts have been worth watching in their own right the past few months.

Penn State enters its first Frozen Four thanks to a 15-4-4 run the past three months after a dismal start to the season when it was winless in Big Ten Conference play and below .500 overall.

A pervasive positive approach allowed the team’s talent to shine through in the second half of the season.

“We kind of didn’t really have a choice,” senior forward Tyler Paquette said. “We were going through a big skid, and we just committed to staying positive no matter what.”

Penn State conducted a practice Monday at Pegula Ice Arena, underneath a video board that featured the Frozen Four logo on all four sides. After some media duties and a hearty post-practice meal, the team practiced once more Tuesday on its home ice before traveling to St. Louis on Tuesday.

Enterprise Arena sits less than a mile and an easy walk from the Gateway Arch and Mississippi River. There’s a much wider gap in the tradition of the two programs.

For a business-focused Penn State squad, it’s not important the Terriers have more Frozen Four appearances (25) than the Nittany Lions have varsity seasons (13) since the program was revived. Even Penn State’s success against Hockey East programs like Maine and UConn — both of which it defeated two weeks ago and both of whom have a victory over BU this season — does not matter much.

“They’re a different animal,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said. “Their power play is over 28%. Obviously, that’s something that’s of concern. I think they’re fourth in the nation. We are going to have to play an extremely disciplined game to give ourselves a better chance.”

BU coach Jay Pandolfo has been appropriately respectful of Penn State leading up to the game, citing the team’s speedy style of play and crediting its efforts to get to this point.

Even with Penn State forward and Hobey Baker Award finalist Aiden Fink scoreless in his last six games, the team has been productive offensively. It has also rallied after every potential problem or setback.

BU blasted Ohio State, 8-3, in regional play and that result could offer room for concern as much as the Maine and UConn efforts provide some comfort for Penn State.

Still, comparisons matter little for the business-minded bunch that enters the Frozen Four as the lowest remaining seed. Penn State will wear its blue uniforms Thursday and again Saturday if it advances, and those on the ice are not worried about the quality of the opponent.

The team survived the rigors of the Big Ten, did something many thought unlikely and has played 62% of its games (24 of 29) this season against ranked teams, including 15 of the last 17. Penn State has gone 10-4-3 in those games.

Penn State (22-13-4) vs. Boston University (23-13-2)

Frozen Four National Semifinal: 8:30 p.m. Thursday

Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, BigfootCountryLegends.com, Bigfoot Country Legends 103.7 and 104.3 FM, WFXS-FM 98.7 (Regular Penn State play-by-plan talent Brain Tripp will work for Westwood One on the national call of all Frozen Four games. Eric Ohlson and Chris Funkey will call the action on the Penn State Sports Network.)

Streaming/TV: ESPN2

Notable: This is the first meeting between the two programs. … BU, which is making its 25th Frozen Four appearance, has 13 NHL draft picks on its roster. Penn State, making its first appearance, has three. ... Penn State wins faceoffs at the highest rate (54.2%) of any Frozen Four team. Denver (53.9%), Western Michigan (53.5%) and BU (49.4%) just behind though. … While Penn State and BU meet in the nightcap, the puck drops on the first national semifinal at 5 p.m. That’s Denver, making its 20th appearance, vs. first timer Western Michigan. …

Penn State is hosting a watch party at Pegula Ice Arena. Doors for the free event open at 7:30 p.m.

This story was originally published April 10, 2025 at 5:05 AM.