Young Penn State hockey stars shine in season-opening sweep

Penn State hockey started its 2024-25 campaign with back-to-back wins in the Last Frontier, sweeping Alaska over the weekend in Fairbanks.

There is a lot of “new” surrounding the Penn State hockey program coming into the year. Over the offseason, the Nittany Lions lost ten players to the transfer portal or graduation. Some big faces left the program, including last year’s starting goaltender. Head coach Guy Gadowsky was busy backfilling his roster, bringing in 11 new players from the recruiting trail and the portal. 

The Nittany Lions faced those challenges and then some trying to open the season 4,000 miles from Pegula, but ultimately, the Blue and White will return home 2-0.

Nittany Lions stave off comeback bid on season opening Saturday

Six of the 11 new members of the Penn State roster were in the lineup to open the season. With the new faces and the puck dropping at what would feel like 11:07 p.m. ET, a sluggish start may have been expected. 

Hot start to 2024

But, there was no sluggish start to be found on Saturday night. Under five minutes into the contest, an odd-man rush broke out with returning sophomore star forward Aiden Fink and senior forward Danny Dzhaniyev alone with one Nanooks defender. Fink sent a cross-ice pass that Dzhaniyev fired past the pipes to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. 

A power play for Alaska threatened to turn momentum in the home team’s favor, but all it did was further the Lion’s lead. Highly touted freshman forward Charlie Cerrato made his presence felt for the first time when he was able to find freshman Braedan Ford in front of the net for a tap-in goal to give Penn State a 2-0 lead less than ten minutes into the opening frame. 

The multi-goal advantage wouldn’t last long, as Alaska would score a one-timer goal of its own just about two minutes after Penn State doubled the lead. The 2-1 score would hold till the end of the period. It was an uncharacteristic period in the sense that Alaska outshot the Nittany Lions 10-6, aided in part by a few power play opportunities. 

Penn State adds to its lead in the second frame

Penn State looked a little more like the “shoot first” Nittany Lions that fans are accustomed to seeing in the second period. Their efforts were rewarded about halfway through the frame.

Cerrato showed a flash of what could make him such a special player. He used his skating skills to juke out his defender using a quick stop, opening up a passing lane to follow freshman JJ Wiebusch across the ice. Cerrato mailed the puck right to the tape of Wiebusch’s stick, and the Alaska netminder had no chance. The Nittany Lions had regained their two-goal advantage. 

Penn State survived a late power play by Alaska and took a 3-1 lead back to the locker room. The Lions outshot Alaska 13-6 in the middle stanza. 

Nittany Lion newcomers seal the game in overtime

The start of the third period did not go well for Penn State. Just about two minutes in, an Alaska shot was saved by junior goaltender Arsenii Sergeev, but left a juicy rebound. Alaska was able to capitalize on the University of Connecticut transfer and Calgary Flames draft choice who was making his debut for the Lions in goal after transferring in over the summer. 

Just 53 seconds later, a very similar play unfolded in front of Sergeev and another loose rebound led to another Alaska goal, and all of the sudden the game was tied. 

Both teams had their chances for the rest of the period, but Alaska controlled the pace of play. Neither team was able to find the back of the net for the remainder of regulation and Penn State’s season opener was headed to overtime.

Sudden death overtime opened with a great chance for Alaska that was turned aside by Sergeev. But it was Penn State hockey that was able to take advantage of the open ice during the three on three. Wiebusch, not to be outdone by his fellow freshman, sent a pass to senior defenseman and team captain Simon Mack cutting in on the back door. He made no mistake and buried the game winner. 

In order for Penn State hockey to have a successful year, the freshmen are going to have to step up in a big way. That is exactly what happened in game one of the season. Freshman players recorded five points and were involved on all but one Nittany Lion goal.

Penn State hockey stars pour it on en route to blowout Sunday win

© John Mersits / USA TODAY NETWORK

Sunday night’s contest got off to a much slower start than the prior night, the first period in this series that didn’t have a goal scored. It was a largely uneventful period, aside from a few penalties. Alaska yet again had a 10-7 shot advantage, although it had two extra minutes of power play time in the period. 

But Penn State hockey wouldn’t waste much time getting started in the second period. Aiden Fink launched a shot through traffic that deflected off sophomore forward Matt DiMarsico and into the net to give Penn State the 1-0 lead. Fink and DiMarsico were both members of the “kid line” as freshmen last year. Now as sophomores, they will be expected to shoulder more of the offensive load. 

The former third member of the “kid line,” sophomore forward Reese Laubach, upheld his end of the deal just a few minutes later. He fired a rocket of shot from the face off circle that hit twine. Dzhaniyev and Fink both picked up helpers on the first man advantage goal of the year for the Nittany Lions. 

Laubach wasn’t done yet. Halfway through the period, he was in on an odd man rush with Aiden Fink. Fink set Laubach up with a beautiful pass for the two on one goal. The Nittany Lions extended the advantage to 3-0, their largest of the season so far. 

Penn State would get a bit undisciplined and take two penalties in the latter part of the period. Continuing the strong early returns for Penn State’s special teams, they easily killed off both.

Fink shines in Game 2

While Aiden Fink recorded an assist on all of the first three goals, he then decided to show off his goal scoring talent. Off an stretch pass from Laubach, Fink was in behind the defense and snapped a quick wrister to make it a 4-0 game. 

The game was in little doubt at any point of the third, but the special teams unit continued its impressive showing. On a penalty kill, Simon Mack sent a lead pass for sophomore Dane Dowiak, who potted it to give Penn State a 5-0 lead. 

Fink finished the night with four points, tying a career-high. Sergeev saved 32 Alaska shots for his second career shutout. It is the first shutout for Penn State hockey since blanking Michigan Tech in the NCAA Tournament in March 2023. 

Former National Champions up next for the Nittany Lions

Penn State hockey doesn’t get to head home quite yet, but it dose get to head back to the East Coast.

The Nittany Lions will take on the No. 8 Quinnipiac Bobcats in their opener in Hamden, Connecticut, on Saturday. The 2023 National Champions will represent a tough test and a good measuring stick for the young Nittany Lions.

Puck drop for the single-game series is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

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