Third-string Penn State men’s hockey goalie goes from club hockey to Big Ten First Star
In this story, Cinderella wears ice skates, and it’s not clear when the clock will strike midnight.
Third-string Penn State goalie John Seifarth, a 6-foot-3 junior from Pittsburgh, was added to the hockey team’s roster for depth, practice reps and a season intended to be full of the helpful and humble — getting enough ice time to keep those ahead of him fresh and sliding into the net as needed at practice. Always at practice.
It was all going so well, until the team needed him to do more.
Then it got even better.
With starter Arsenii Sergeev unavailable because of a nagging lower-body injury and the team surrendering 27 goals in its four previous games, Seifarth became more than the backup’s backup.
He started two games in a nonconference series against Colgate last week and struggling Penn State won both, 3-2 and 7-1. Seifarth stopped 47 of 50 shots in the series and finished the week with a .940 save percentage and a 1.50 goals-against average.
Not bad for a guy who was 4-6 in net for the club hockey team last season.
Seifarth was named the First Star of the Week by the Big Ten Conference, becoming the first Penn State player to earn that recognition since Jan. 4, 2023, when forward Kevin Wall was so honored.
Coach Guy Gadowsky, who was looking to shake things up by starting Seifarth, was surprised by the result. “Incredible,” he said. “I never imagined that would happen.”
The shakeup was probably more intended to encourage the team to play better defense in front of whoever was in net. That happened — and then Seifarth did his part as well.
One of his stops in the second game of the series against Colgate, a lunging stick save to his right while moving from the left side of the crease, ended up No. 2 on that night’s ESPN SportsCenter Top 10.
Seifarth found out about the starting assignment a day before the first game and worked as best as he could to maintain his normal routine before that game. After shaking some early nerves, he settled in and was confident with his play, until he gave up a goal that cut a comfortable two-goal lead to just one goal.
Still, he was determined to help the team get the victory.
“After the second period, I told myself there’s no way we’re losing,” he said.
Seifarth said he improved and learned a lot during practices, and he’s had more ice time the past week or so. He also noted faster and more precise passing in his two Division I games compared to club hockey.
He could be back in net for this week’s series against Ohio State if Sergeev is not OK’d to play by the team’s medical staff.
If so, it’s a meaningful opportunity.
Penn State has lost six Big Ten Conference games to start the season — its longest conference losing streak in a decade. Plus, Ohio State dropped its two non-conference games to Princeton last week and will enter the game motivated to rebound.
So far, Seifarth’s story has been welcome highlight for the team, which has played well at times, but not well enough to win. If he goes back to the bench and Sergeev returns, maybe it’s been enough of a spark to have a bigger impact. Or, if he gets another start, it could be an opportunity for another chapter in the on-ice fairytale.
Penn State (6-7, 0-6 Big Ten) vs. No. 17 Ohio State (9-4-1, 2-2)
Series: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 p.m. Friday
Audio/Radio: GoPSUsports.com, 103.7 FM
Streaming/TV: BTN+ (Thursday), BTN (Friday)
Notable: Ohio State leads the series 25-21-2, with a 14-12-2 advantage on its home ice. … The series was shifted from a typical Friday-Saturday schedule to Thursday-Friday when it seemed the Buckeyes football team would be playing in the conference championship game Saturday in Indianapolis. Ironically, its Penn State that’s playing in that game instead. …. The Friday game is Pups ’n Pucks Night, with the first 50 dogs that get a seat also getting a dog bandanna at the game.