"The best fans in college hockey" : The Roar Zone

When the lights dim at 6:55 on Friday, the Nittany Lion skates onto the ice and “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” blares from the speakers, the 1000-plus standing behind the opposing net will know why they’re there.

An undefeated Penn State will return home for the first time this season, taking on AIC in another non-conference matchup.

The team is expecting a packed home crowd, including the die-hard student section – The Roar Zone.

Coach Guy Gadowsky and his players have raved about their appreciation for the student section and have mentioned how it drives up the rowdy atmosphere of Pegula.

When Dylan Lugris was asked what he was looking forward to the most about playing at home, he said almost instantly, “Oh. Playing in front of The Roar Zone.”

“They’re the best fans in college hockey, so any time we get to play in front of them… they just show their dedication,” Lugris said.

The Roar Zone was founded in 2012 when the Nittany Lions became a Division I team and has been recognized as one of the best student sections in college hockey.

The Roar Zone is loud, distinct and can be found everywhere: lining up in near sub-zero temperatures before games, in lines at the Pegula Auntie Anne’s, dancing in the bleachers, making posters in the Mt. Nittany room and traveling to Long Island for the season-opener.

A group of Roar Zone faithful made the five-hour trek to Northwell Health Ice Center two weeks ago to watch the Nittany Lions open against the LIU Sharks in what was a fairly hostile Long Island crowd, but the sea of blue-and-white stood out proudly.

“I saw so many really cool looking Penn State hoodies and sweatshirts… it was really awesome,” Gadowsky said after the 3-2 win over Long Island. “It was great to hear them, obviously it meant a lot to us.”

Current Roar Zone president and civil engineering major Austin Craig explained how the architecture of Pegula itself elevates the screams, cheers and hollers of the group to the next level.

“It sort of projects all of the sound onto the opposing goalie, and I just think that makes for an incredibly difficult atmosphere to come into, and each year it gets harder and harder because the team’s popularity grows… it’s a snowball effect,” Craig said.

Penn State defeated both Clarkson and St. Lawrence up in the North Country last weekend, concluding their road trip to start the season.

“The good news is, now you exhale and you’re excited to come see The Roar Zone,” Gadowsky said.

The Roar Zone is excited to see the Nittany Lions, too.

Though puck drop is slated for 7 p.m., the official time for lineup cards to get into Pegula will be at 4:30 p.m. Roar Zone attendees spend the hour in between being handed the card and lining up playing football on the quad in between Pegula and the Shields Building, talking to other students and getting excited for the game.

“If people are new to The Roar Zone, and students are coming in as first-years or from branch campuses or whatever, I think they can expect to have a really welcoming group of people,” former president Troy LaPolice said. “Some of my best friends on campus I’ve met through going to games, going to the student section, so from a community perspective, I think that’s what people can expect.”

The 3-0 Nittany Lions are looking to put away the 0-3 Yellow Jackets in a two-game series this weekend, but no matter what happens Friday, Saturday or moving forward, they’ll always have a group of faithful hockey fans singing “Love Ya, Lions.”

Adrianna Gallucci is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.