Penn State men’s hockey will bring offensive mindset to face No. 6 Wisconsin
Good things generally happen when sophomore defenseman Dylan Gratton steps on the ice for the Penn State men’s hockey team.
The team scores more goals than it allows when he’s playing (he’s a team-high plus-14 along with seven assists) and he consistently brings a high IQ to his efforts, as well as a willingness to sacrifice his body for team success.
Gratton ranks one of the team leaders with 23 blocked shots — and he has the bruises to prove it.
“Sometimes you’re lucky and it gets you square on the shin pad, and you don’t notice it. But, yeah, it’s pretty much a one-to-one ratio,” Gratton said. “But you know if you’re doing it hopefully the team will be rewarded. At the same time, I know I’m going to be in some pain the next morning.”
Penn State’s aggressive offensive mindset has shaped the team’s identity and transferring that approach to defense has been a struggle at times. In three of the team’s five losses this season it has given up six goals.
Coach Guy Gadowsky believes there has been progress and the team is further along with its defense than it was a few seasons ago, though.
“We’ve worked through the years to have our defense match our offense,” Gadowsky said. “I think we’re getting more comfortable in that skin. We were very comfortable offensively but gave up a lot when we tried to do too much defensively.”
This weekend’s opponent provides an example of the power of strong defense.
Wisconsin leads the nation in scoring defense, limiting teams to 1.69 goals per game. Over the last four games the Badgers have outscored opponents, 14-2.
Senior goalie Kyle McClellan boasts the nation’s top goals-against average (1.74) and the second best save percentage (.934). He already has three shutouts to his credit.
Gratton, who said a big part of job as a defenseman at Penn State is get the puck back in the offensive end for his teammates, anticipates the “cool atmosphere” at the Kohl Center this weekend. With the team’s success, the Badgers are drawing bigger crowds to a place Gratton already politely described as “fun.”
Gadowsky, who invariably preaches a focus-on-us approach, said this weekend’s matchup will not be easy.
“They’re putting up great defensive numbers right now,” Gadowsky said. “We’re a pretty offensive team as part of our identity. If we’re going to keep that up this weekend, it’s going to take a lot of work.”
No. 17 Penn State (9-5-3, 2-3-3 Big Ten) at No. 6 Wisconsin (12-4, 6-2)
Series: 9 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday
Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 104.3 FM
Streaming/TV: BTN (Friday), BTN+ (Saturday)
Notable: Penn State leads the all-time series, 27-19-3, and won both games in Madison last season. ... Wisconsin is 7-1 at home this season. It swept Ohio State last weekend. … Penn State is 7-2 when scoring first this season. … Penn State goalie Noah Grannan, who has been splitting time in net with Liam Souliere, grew up in Germantown, Wis., about 80 miles east of Madison. Grannan is 3-2-2 with a 2.60 goals-against average. Souliere is 6-3-1, 3.13.