NCAA Hockey

No. 18 Men’s Hockey Hosts Wisconsin to Open Six-Game Homestand – Penn State

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NOT TOO BAD, A?

During the bye week, Penn State head coach Guy Gadowksy announced an addition to the leadership group as senior Danny Dzhaniyev was presented with a letter on his sweater as he will serve as an alternate captain for the remainder of the season joining fellow alternates Jimmy Dowd Jr. and Carson Dyck along with captain Simon Mack.

 

POSITIVE ON THE PK

Penn State leads the Big Ten and ranks third in the nation on the penalty kill this season killing off 96.9 percent (31-for-32) of opponent powerplay opportunities including a 28-for-28 streak to open the year prior to a Jimmy Snuggerud net front tip a few weeks ago.

The Nittany Lions have also scored three shorthanded goals to tie for the Big Ten lead and rank second in the country behind UConn’s four. Penn State is a +2 on the PK this season, one of just two teams in the country positive while a skating a man down, BC is +1 with one shorthanded goal and a perfect 100 percent penalty kill.

PSU had just one shorty last season and two in 2022-23. The program record for shorthanded tallies is 12 achieved in 2015-16.

 

CAPTAIN CONSISTENCY

Senior captain Simon Mack has been one of the most consistent players for Guy Gadowsky during his tenure in Hockey Valley and this year he currently leads all Nittany Lion blueliners with five points, with one goal and four assists, a mark good for third on the team.

Mack’s nine career goals ties for ninth all-time for Penn State defensemen while his 31 assists and 40 points are each just two shy of cracking into the top-10 all-time for Penn State blueliners.

Along with his defensive partner, freshman Cade Christenson, the duo is plus-9 on the season with Christenson leading the team at plus-5 and Mack tied for second with Aiden Fink at plus-4. Fink’s plus-4 rating is the best mark among Penn State forwards.

 

MEET US AT THE DOT

Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten and 11th nationally winning 55.1 percent of its faceoffs for the year behind only Wisconsin in the conference as the Badgers rank ninth in the nation winning 55.3 percent of its draws.

A pair of freshmen lead the way for the Nittany Lions as Keaton Peters ranks second in the Big Ten among true centermen winning 61.1 percent (58-for-95) of his draws while Charlie Cerrato sits fourth in the Big Ten at 60.6 percent (57-for-94).

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Penn State – Official Athletics Website…