History of college field hockey games, including attendance records

Frozen ponds and outdoor sheets are staples in the hockey world. From the Glass District to the NHL Winter Classic, the greatest sport on ice will always be outside.

This is especially true in college hockey. Since 2001, dozens of DI men’s hockey tournaments have been played outdoors. Let’s dive into the history of the outdoor game of men’s college hockey.

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Cold War

In 2001, rivals Michigan and Michigan State joined the Cold War in one of the greatest spectacles in hockey history.

The Cold War, the first outdoor game in NCAA history, was a regular season game between the Spartans and the Wolverines on October 6, 2001. Spartan Stadium was filled to 103.4% capacity as fans from across the state and beyond traveled to witness this unique event. Each team fielded a 300-piece marching band to create a true college football atmosphere. The temperature dropped to 34 degrees and the clouds created perfect ice conditions for puck drop.

The Cold War held the world record for the largest crowd at a hockey game at the time with 74,554 fans, but it was still the second-largest crowd for an NCAA hockey game. The game was tied 3-3 after overtime, but it is believed to have started a trend in outdoor hockey in college and beyond.

Big Chill

Next time we don’t have to go too far. On December 11, 2010, the Wolves and Spartans met again, this time at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor for The Big Chill at the Big House. This was the 5th DI Men’s Hockey Tournament in 2010. But it was different.

113,411 fans (104,173 confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records) filled the Big House, breaking the record for attendance at a hockey game ever played, a record that still stands today. In the rematch of the Cold War game, the Wolverine faithful won 5-0.

Biggest Outdoor College Hockey Games With Crowds:

Frozen Fenway

Fenway Park is the most frequent outdoor hockey venue, hosting more than 20 college games across all divisions of men’s and women’s hockey. The historic arena began hosting outdoor hockey in 2010 as part of the Frozen Fenway Series and has since hosted 17 DI men’s games through 2023. Frozen Fenway games featured various teams from the Northeast, including Boston College, BU, Northeastern, Harvard, Union and others. Providence, others.

Frozen Fenway is a multi-game series with mostly a mix of DI and DIII men’s and NC and DIII women’s teams. The 2023 Frozen Fenway Series featured two men’s DI games and two women’s NC games in the days following the 2023 NHL Winter Classic between the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Detroit’s Comerica Park and Chicago’s Military Field have each hosted four men’s hockey games in four years, while Chicago’s Wrigley Field (3) and Connecticut’s Rentschler Field (2) are the only outdoor arenas to host multiple DI men’s hockey games.

Which college hockey teams played the most outdoor games?

Since 2001, 40 different men’s DI hockey teams have appeared in outdoor arenas. Michigan is the only team since the Cold War to play 10 outdoor hockey games. The Wolverines may play the most games outdoors, but Boston College may be the most successful team under the stadium lights, winning four of five games.

DI men’s hockey teams with the most away games:

Beaver Stadium Hockey Valley

The outdoor tradition will continue in 2026 when Penn State hosts two outdoor games at Beaver Stadium. The Penn State women’s team hosts Robert Morris on Jan. 30 and the men’s team will play rival Michigan State on Jan. 31. With a maximum capacity of 106,572 in Beaver Stadium, we might even see an all-time attendance record.