Keep it in the family: PSU men’s hockey coach Guy Gadowsky will face his son Mac Gadowsky
There’s a slight pause before Mac Gadowsky answers. He’s taking a moment to collect his thoughts and appreciate the dream-come-true moment, the history and even the full-circle irony.
He’s playing a Division I hockey game Saturday night at Pegula Ice Arena, the same place where he’s watched so many games, where he’s been on the ice before, where he’s been in the home team locker room and offices, and where he dreamed of playing someday.
When the puck drops as 19th-ranked Penn State plays host to Army, Gadowsky expects to be fully focused. Before that, though, it’s OK for Army’s freshman defenseman to try to summarize his homecoming opportunity and playing against the Nittany Lions — the team coached by his father in the arena where he grew up watching games.
“With my dad being a college coach all my life, I always dreamed of playing in college and I didn’t really think of where I would play. I just looked up to guys on his teams through the years,” Gadowsky said. “The first game at Pegula, when they opened the building, I remember it like it was yesterday, just seeing the crowd and the environment. It was something spectacular.
“So that kind of started the dream of playing at Penn State in that environment. It’s kind of cool that game was against West Point, and I’ll be able to play for them this time.”
Gadowsky, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound defenseman, has played in 11 games this season. He’s tied for the team lead with 11 assists, has blocked 17 shots and is second on the team with a plus-2. In December, he recorded eight points in three games and this week was named the Atlantic Hockey Defensive Player of the Month for that effort.
Yes, Mac Gadowsky, son of offensive-minded, never-met-a-bad-shot coach Guy Gadowsky (who was a right wing in his playing days) is a defenseman. Maybe it sounds like a little bit of rebellion but it’s really the most team-first Gadowsky thing ever — and his dad is that guy as well.
The younger Gadowsky was on a team with a lot of depth up front that needed some blue-line help. He offered to move, thanks in part to his skills skating backward. Plus, and it’s clearly a son-of-a-coach thing, he likes to see the whole ice.
“I would say I’m more of a passer, trying to create some plays,” Mac Gadowsky said. “When I first told dad, he was supportive and said, ‘Why not?’ He let me experience hockey on my own and find what fit me.”
Coach Gadowsky sees that and offers concise, strong praise for his puck-moving defenseman son. “He thinks the game really well.”
Gadowsky admits he’s not sure what to expect during the game Saturday. He’s coached against All-Americans, Hobey Baker Award winners, super-pesky and physical opponents, but never one of his sons. (There are two, Mac and Magnus, separated by 18 months. Magnus plays for the NAHL’s Maryland Black Bears.)
“It’s going to be interesting,” Guy Gadowsky said. “Army’s coach, Brian Riley, told me he’s coached against his kids before and it was a great experience. For all I’ve done in hockey, there’s never been anything like this. We have our own things to focus on as a team but I’m sure I’m going to be aware of where Mac’s at during the game. It’ll be fun, I think.”
It’ll also be competitive. That’s just a Gadowsky thing, whether it’s at home with board games or in front of a few thousand people on the ice. So bragging rights will matter (even with what the person the elder Gadowsky considers the family’s most competitive person, daughter Mia, not involved).
“It’s kind of in our blood, our whole family, we compete at everything,” Mac said.
No. 19 Penn State (9-7-3) vs. Army (5-13)
Game: 6 p.m. Saturday
Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 104.3 FM
Streaming/TV: BTN+
Notable: Penn State leads the all-time series, 3-0. … The teams have only ever played single games — in 2022, 2013 and 2012. The 2012 game in West Point, N.Y., was Penn State’s first shutout victory as a Division I program. Then, on Oct. 11, 2013, Army provided the opposition as the Nittany Lions played their first game at Pegula Ice Arena. … Army has been inconsistent but beat 16th-ranked New Hampshire one week ago. … This weekend’s game is Penn State’s final non-conference game of the season. It’s also the first of five home games this month for the Nittany Lions.