Nobody on the team seemed to be fazed by the frigid weather, considering the Mountain Lions were playing in one of the most iconic college football stadiums the country has to offer.

“I told them they’re going to have to work themselves warm today,” Altoona coach Don Burgmeier said. “There’s not going to be any standing around.”

Altoona and State College were playing in the makeshift rink inside West Shore Home Field at Beaver Stadium. With fans behind the players on the bench in the eastern part of the stadium, and the ongoing construction site ahead of them on the west side, it made for a surreal scene.

“This doesn’t even seem real,” one Altoona player said from the bench after the Mountain Lions made their way across the field from the tunnel.

Both the Altoona and State College players even used the same locker room that the Penn State football team uses on gameday. The two teams were separated only by curtains in preparation for the once in a lifetime experience.

“It’s unbelievable. We’ve never done anything like this before,” said Burgmeier, whose team won, 7-4. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing. I’ve been coaching for over 20 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.”

There were youth hockey games being played on the ice before the varsity game that began just after 6:30 p.m. Thursday. There are also several times scheduled for public skating, but the headliner will be Saturday’s Penn State men’s hockey game against Michigan State. It will be the program’s first outdoor hockey game.

Outdoor hockey is becoming more popular ever since the NHL’s Winter Classic inception on New Year’s Day in 2008, but it’s still rare in the high school ranks.

Altoona junior Noah Staines said he has been playing hockey since he could walk. But he probably never expected to play in an outdoor game, especially in high school.

“It’s just so cool walking out there,” Staines said. “I had goosebumps. It’s something you’ll never experience again.”

Carter Panick, a junior on the team, said he will be at the PSU game on Saturday, but it doesn’t compare to Thursday night.

“It’s an unforgettable experience,” Panick said. “Just walking out there and seeing the stadium, that’s cool just being on the field, let alone being on the ice.”

Many Altoona hockey alumni have expressed how they wished they could have played in a game such as one on Thursday, including Burgmeier’s two grown sons.

“I hope they remember this in a good light,” Burgmeier said. “In 30 to 40 years from now, they’ll look back on it and realize what a great experience it is.”

Staines knows it, too.

“It’s not about the win or the loss tonight,” Staines said. “It’s about the memory created, and enjoying the time with the team, and embracing the memories.”

Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.