Penn State men’s hockey to open conference play with a two-game series in Minnesota
A bunch of newcomers and an experienced and familiar face seem set to define what happens during the first conference road trip of the season for the Penn State men’s hockey team.
The 18th-ranked Nittany Lions open conference play with a two-game series this weekend against No. 5 Minnesota.
Playing Minnesota, especially on the road, has been a challenge for Penn State. It could be an especially eye-opening experience for this season’s squad, which includes 11 freshmen — all but one of whom have seen playing time through the first five games.
Minnesota has dominated the series, with Penn State getting just three victories in the past 15 meetings. Two of those have come on the road, though, and the visitors might be due. Those three W’s have each been separated by four losses, and the Nittany Lions enter this series on a four-game losing streak to the Badgers.
Still, it’ll probably be less about history and more about adaptation and performance this weekend.
Sophomore forward Aiden Fink, a unanimous selection for the conference’s All-Freshman Team last season, has been happy to be a resource for his teammates.
“The speed and strength are different at this level from juniors, which is something we’ve all been through,” he said, emphasizing the need for more toughness, and especially mental toughness. “It’s about adapting during away games, blocking out the student section and not letting them get in your head.”
Fink, who’s in the midst of a career-best six-game points streak, said Michigan and Minnesota might be two of the more energetic places that opposing teams visit in the Big Ten.
A veteran for Minnesota — one familiar to Penn State — might be the most important player on the ice this weekend.
Goalie Liam Souliere transferred from to Minnesota from Penn State after last season. He ranks second in Penn State history with 39 wins and 84 games played in net. During his junior season, he backstopped the team’s run to the regional final, making 41 saves in an eventual overtime loss to No. 2 Michigan as Penn State just missed a first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said the team and Souliere expected and opportunity for him to turn pro after last season. When that did not develop, he transferred, which Gadowsky said was done “the right way” with no hard feelings.
Souliere was not made available to talk this week. So far, he’s made his statements on the ice.
He and teammate Nathan Avery have each started three games. Souliere has gone 2-1, posting a 1.66 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage. He’ll almost certainly start one of the two games against Penn State, and maybe both.
No. 18 Penn State (4-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at No. 4 Minnesota (5-1, 0-0)
Series: 8 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday
Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 103.7 FM
Streaming/TV: B1G+
Notable: Minnesota leads the all-time series, 29-18-1, with an 18-7 advantage on its home ice. … Minnesota defenseman Sam Rinzel was the conference’s first star of the week with two goals and three assists in a sweep of St. Thomas last week. … Teammate Bobby Lamb was the second star, with four goals, including a natural hat trick, in the two-game series. … Penn State leads the nation (tied with Arizona State and Michigan) with three short-handed goals this season. … Penn State forward Danny Dzhaniyev has scored a point in career-high 10 consecutive games.