2025-26 PSU Men's Ice Hockey Thread
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
If you are among the many PSU football fans, like myself, stunned by their collapse. I feel for you. It’s been a lousy month or so. And it may not get better. However, this is not the football team. Get over it.
Now, I don’t mind a little debate, but let’s discuss your issues with the hockey team. First, the penalties ARE a problem. However, while they are far and away the most penalized team in NCAA hockey, the reality and context is that roughly half of their penalty minutes (90 of 209) have come in the last 10-15 seconds of games, two in particular. Both the last game vs Clarkson and LIU were atrociously officiated, and the crew that worked the LIU series completely lost control of the games. NONE of those minutes had the slightest impact on the outcome of those games, and our boys felt the need for redress of those rink grievances. If you’re going to take penalties, those are the best kind and help build the culture of a team and a program.
Second, Reidler gave up two early goals and, yes, that’s a brutal way to start a game. How did he finish? If we are going to be critical of his start, let’s offer plaudits for the last 55 minutes of the game, correct? Further, giving up goals on redirects and bad bounces are part of the game. Let’s recognize that as well. Reidler did a damn fine job last night.
Finally, let’s also not forget that … it’s still October for one more day. Ultimately, this team was built for March and April and we are not yet 10 games into this journey. Let’s try and show some patience for these kids, because that’s what they are. They are still learning with each shift, each series, what their strengths and weaknesses are and what they need to improve. Whatever Guy said to them in the first intermission must’ve been good and he should bottle it, because they controlled and dominated the last two periods. We can only hope they pick up where they left off.
Round 2: early Van Olm doorstep shot stuffed. Early PP upcoming for PSU. Early shorthanded breakaway given up. Goood news is we might have put the biscuit in the basket. We all thought it went in but play didn’t stop. PP over and stoppage has led to review…. GOOooOoOoAlalll!!!! 1-0! Smith, from the McKenna kid.
Much better start, boys in blue carrying play thus far. 14:53 left in first. Annnnd another Pp for PSU.
GOallll! DiMarsico from JJ!!!! 2-0, 13:30 or so left first!
Odd man rush off a turnover and the Buckeyes score. 2-1 9:31 to go. Fleming in net. Shots were 7-0 PSU, now 8-7 OSU. Going down two has ignited the Bucks. Slashing on Katzin has Bucks on a PP. four minutes left first. And just like that, it’s 2-2. 3:24 left first. Annnnd now Gadowsky in box for hooking. Ugh! Managed to kill the PP. End first 2-2.
Well, it’s better than being behind 2-0 like last night. It was a tale of a period in two halves. PSU dominated, then OSU. What will the second period bring?
Schoen in the box for goaltender interference. 16 minutes left second. Now Laubach and a Buckeye in the box for playing the feud. Penalty killed.
Buckeye in the box for tripping. 11:56 to go second for PSU PP. Nothing doing on Pp. 8:24 to go second.
Another PP for PSU for interference. 5:07 left second.
GoOoOoOoaoaoOall! Wiebusch from DiMarsico!!!!! 3-2 with 331 left second.
GoOoOoOoOaallll! Dowiak makes it 4-2!!!! Less than a minute left, from Mac!
A very strong second period for the Lions! 4-2 after two!
So far, PSU has maintained momentum. Still 4-2, 16 minutes left.
Cerrato in the box for a trip. 14:45 to go. PK a success, still up 4-2, 11:23 to go.
Schade now in the sin bin for hooking. 10:05 to go. Penalty on OSu ends PP. four on four. Not much doing on either pp. 6:42 to go after PSU chance in front of net even strength.
Five minutes left, up 4-2. Net empty at four minutes. Buckeyes buzzing, but Fleming standing tall. 3:07 left. Penalty for cross check to head. But Collins got hit with embellishment. Four on four, even three minutes left.
Net empty, 2:20 left, five on four. McKenna missed empty net. 1:31 to go. Cerrato misses EN. Now 46 seconds left to the sweep. Buckeyes extra attacker scores with 14 seconds left. Up 4-3.
How sweep it is!!!
Much better start, boys in blue carrying play thus far. 14:53 left in first. Annnnd another Pp for PSU.
GOallll! DiMarsico from JJ!!!! 2-0, 13:30 or so left first!
Odd man rush off a turnover and the Buckeyes score. 2-1 9:31 to go. Fleming in net. Shots were 7-0 PSU, now 8-7 OSU. Going down two has ignited the Bucks. Slashing on Katzin has Bucks on a PP. four minutes left first. And just like that, it’s 2-2. 3:24 left first. Annnnd now Gadowsky in box for hooking. Ugh! Managed to kill the PP. End first 2-2.
Well, it’s better than being behind 2-0 like last night. It was a tale of a period in two halves. PSU dominated, then OSU. What will the second period bring?
Schoen in the box for goaltender interference. 16 minutes left second. Now Laubach and a Buckeye in the box for playing the feud. Penalty killed.
Buckeye in the box for tripping. 11:56 to go second for PSU PP. Nothing doing on Pp. 8:24 to go second.
Another PP for PSU for interference. 5:07 left second.
GoOoOoOoaoaoOall! Wiebusch from DiMarsico!!!!! 3-2 with 331 left second.
GoOoOoOoOaallll! Dowiak makes it 4-2!!!! Less than a minute left, from Mac!
A very strong second period for the Lions! 4-2 after two!
So far, PSU has maintained momentum. Still 4-2, 16 minutes left.
Cerrato in the box for a trip. 14:45 to go. PK a success, still up 4-2, 11:23 to go.
Schade now in the sin bin for hooking. 10:05 to go. Penalty on OSu ends PP. four on four. Not much doing on either pp. 6:42 to go after PSU chance in front of net even strength.
Five minutes left, up 4-2. Net empty at four minutes. Buckeyes buzzing, but Fleming standing tall. 3:07 left. Penalty for cross check to head. But Collins got hit with embellishment. Four on four, even three minutes left.
Net empty, 2:20 left, five on four. McKenna missed empty net. 1:31 to go. Cerrato misses EN. Now 46 seconds left to the sweep. Buckeyes extra attacker scores with 14 seconds left. Up 4-3.
How sweep it is!!!
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Sweeping away OSU is a nice way to start the conference season.
Not the best news, but not the worst either.
www.psucollegian.com
Aiden Fink out for ‘foreseeable future’ with upper body injury
Penn State men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky revealed that Aiden Fink will be out with an upper-body injury for the 'foreseeable future’ at his media availability on Monday.
I saw a tweet (Jaret Gold) who noted:Not the best news, but not the worst either.
Aiden Fink out for ‘foreseeable future’ with upper body injury
Penn State men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky revealed that Aiden Fink will be out with an upper-body injury for the 'foreseeable future’ at his media availability on Monday.
Penn State's schedule sets up quite nice to weather an injury like this Yes, they have No. 1 and No. 2 next on the schedule, but they're capable of competing in those games without Fink After 11/22, they don't play a game until 1/3 and don't head on the road until 1/26
If they can get a split in those 2 series (I realize that's easier said than done) and sweep Minnesota, they can be in a good spot with a month-plus break.
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Yes, but you have hope via a new staff. I love Coach Motzko, but I hope he retires. He has earned the right to leave on his own terms. I just think it's come to the point that it needs to be sooner. Not later.
Edit: November 21st and 22nd. I hope for a split, but realistically, I just hope we are competitive. UMD made us look pitiful.
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If he sucks enough. It’s like with the football coach search. A coach failing at his current “school” increases our chances of getting him.
He probably should but also probably won't. He needs to fill out to compete in pro hockey, whether it's in the NHL or AHL next season, and right now it probably will be in the latter.
I think it is possible. Depends on team that drafts him and where they want him.
stay another year and at end of PSU season bring up to AHL for last several games
Ask him to go straight to AHL team
Team needs the buzz of #1 overall (if that is where he goes) being in NHL line up right away, even if not ready. Done teams are indeed that stupid.
Will be interesting to see
I know that he's been fairly productive if unspectacular so far, but I severely doubt that he'll be ready physically for the NHL next season based on what I've seen so far, unless an organization is stupid and wants to rush him when he's not ready.
McKenna is already spending much more time on ice than all our forwards, so I hope we aren’t going to wear him out, especially with Fink gone for the next three crucial weekends. It’s hard to believe he’s still 17. And Smith is rapidly becoming a leader on the blue line. And he just turned 18 six months ago.
This weekend will be a good measuring stick. The points earned Friday and Saturday may be important for seeding purposes when the B1G tourney rolls around.
This weekend will be a good measuring stick. The points earned Friday and Saturday may be important for seeding purposes when the B1G tourney rolls around.
It's very common for college draft picks to join their NHL teams at the end of the season after their college seasons end, like last season with the BC forward for the Capitals, the Denver defenseman for the Wild, and the Minny forward for the Blues. I think and hope that this is what McKenna might do in the spring of 2027.
Yep, that was one of my three scenarios. After PSU ends next season, he moves up for end of the year.
That sucks Fink is out for a while.
McKenna can’t play in the AHL until he’s 20 (aside from some games at the end of the season). Next year it will either be NCAA or NHL. I really think he should do college for another season to bulk up. He’s too slight of build for the current day NHL.
McKenna can’t play in the AHL until he’s 20 (aside from some games at the end of the season). Next year it will either be NCAA or NHL. I really think he should do college for another season to bulk up. He’s too slight of build for the current day NHL.
First time Sparty has led PSU in Munn since November 2023. Hopefully it will be brief
