It was a crisp, sunny winter afternoon. A rare break in the cold, snowy weather has settled over the Seven Mountains. 

Baby Bigfoot has spent the past few months hunkered down, passing time by resting and nibbling on acorns and juniper berries. While he loved the peace that winter brings to the forest, he was ready for another adventure. 

B.B. has always been curious about the world of humans. And he’d learned about the legendary hockey atmosphere at Penn State from a few of his other woodland friends.

With a joyful grunt, B.B. bounded down the mountain paths, his large feet making soft thuds in the snow. His shaggy fur fluffed up in the cold breeze, but he hardly noticed because he was excited—there was a new place that he was ready to explore. Soon, he spotted a large building with bright lights that lit up the night. Through the tall, glass windows, he could read the words ‘Hockey Valley.’

A crowd of people filled the parking lot – they chatted excitedly as they made their way towards the doors of the arena.  

This must be the place, B.B. thought to himself.

He shuffled toward the entrance, his paws leaving deep, picture perfect prints in the snow. At first, no one noticed him. But then, a few fans looked up, blinking in surprise. One by one, they gasped and pointed. Baby Bigfoot grinned sheepishly. 

“Is that…is that Baby Bigfoot?” someone whispered.

B.B. waved with a bit of hesitation, as he wasn’t quite comfortable yet in his new surroundings. A group of fans rushed over, talking loudly with their cameras in hand. “Hey, you’re a long way from the mountains,” they said. The buzz in the air shifted from excitement about the game to absolute awe at B.B.’s sudden appearance.

One enthusiastic fan grabbed his furry hand, pulling him toward the seats. “Come on! You’re just in time for the puck drop.” Baby Bigfoot’s unexpected appearance made him an instant spectacle. Fans in the stands turned to stare, their jaws dropping in amazement. “Look at that!” a student shouted from the Roar Zone. “Is he…real?” Baby Bigfoot found himself the center of attention, as his deep smile and gentle wave were displayed on the jumbotron above.  

The game was fast and loud—people screamed and jumped, stomping their feet on the floor, and pounding their fists on the glass surrounding the rink. B.B. tried to mimic them, clapping his big paws together with an enthusiastic thud that sent fans into giggles.

Suddenly, the crowd went wild. “Scooooore,” B.B. heard the fans around him roaring with excitement. The joyous atmosphere was immediately interrupted by the ear-piercing sound of an air horn, which caused B.B. to bashfully duck behind the folks around him. “It’s all your fault,” students in the Roar Zone chanted. B.B. wondered if he had done something wrong, as he continued to hide within the seats. 

“Don’t be scared, little Bigfoot,” said one fan. “That’s the sound of victory,” said another. B.B. soon rose back to his feet with a smile, fist bumping the joyous crowd. As the first period came to an end, B.B. was ready for his next adventure of the night. He had been invited down to the ice to greet eager fans. 

With his big, fur-covered arms waving enthusiastically, B.B. soon made his way toward the rink. As he stepped onto the ice, he found the surface to be extremely cold, even for a creature that is use to spending harsh winters deep in the forest. 

But that didn’t matter. B.B. paused and looked around, his fuzzy face filled with wonder. The fans were going wild —clapping, cheering, and chanting, “B.B.! B.B.! B.B.!” The booming voice of Rodney, the arena announcer, then filled the air. “Folks, you’re seeing this right,” Rodney said, his voice filled with both disbelief and amusement. “It appears that we have a real Baby Bigfoot on the ice right now!”

Soon after, a man driving a large machine stopped next to B.B. “Want to take a ride on the Zamboni?” he asked with a grin. Baby Bigfoot climbed into the seat and they took off. He smiled as the Zamboni glided over the ice, smoothing out the rink with a soft whirr. B.B. waved at the crowd as fans pressed their phones against the glass, snapping countless photos that soon set social media abuzz. 

Before long, Baby Bigfoot was led up to the radio booth, where a friendly voice greeted him. Brian, the lead broadcast announcer, chuckled as he placed a radio headset over B.B.’s ears. Brian had been describing Baby Bigfoot’s surprise visit to the arena to his listeners far and wide. “Do you have a prediction for tonight’s game?” Brian asked with a gentle grin. He’d never interviewed a Bigfoot before. B.B. tilted his head and looked at the players on the ice. He gave a deep, rumbling growl, then pointed at the Penn State team and nodded with a smile. The crowd again went wild. “We Are!” Brian exclaimed, as he confirmed for the masses that Bigfoots do indeed exist.  

Soon after the Zamboni ride, countless photos, and the trip to the radio booth, Baby Bigfoot began to feel a little hungry. As he made his way to the concession stands on the main concourse, he caught a whiff of something familiar…something from his day at the football game back in the fall. Then, he spotted it–the world-famous Penn State Chicken Basket. Within seconds, B.B. was enjoying the crispy, golden chicken, his happy grunts and chomps filling the air. The fans loved it, snapping even more pictures as he munched away with delight.

As the game came to an end, Baby Bigfoot stood up, waving goodbye to his new friends. They had truly made him feel like a part of the Penn State family. He’d experienced the thrill of the game, met some amazing people, and even celebrated a home team win. 

His heart was full as he trudged back into the night. B.B. return to the forest, his mind buzzing with stories to share. The Seven Mountains were calling him home, but he would never forget his adventure in Hockey Valley. 

And next winter, maybe he’d come back and cheer on the team again—this time with even more friends from the forest.