Why Penn State’s mentality will dictate how this men’s hockey team will be remembered
Goalie Kevin Reidler slammed his stick and threw one of his gloves before he was replaced for Penn State men’s hockey Friday night. Reidler didn’t move much on the bench as the play on the ice continued after he gave up his fourth goal in an eventual loss to Wisconsin.
The starting goalie’s despondence was indicative of where this team is at right now.
Penn State has finished one of the most highly-anticipated regular seasons in program history and is about to begin the postseason with fans not knowing what to expect moving forward.
The Lions have lost three games in a row and were outscored by Wisconsin in their final series of the year, 12-5, after a 7-3 loss Thursday night was followed up by a 5-2 loss Friday. Head coach Guy Gadowsky’s team is showing the wear of the regular season.
“We have little concerns,” Gadowsky said after the second loss to Wisconsin. “Anytime at this time of year — we have more fatigue on the forward end than usual because of such a short roster. But that’s the way it goes. So we’re we’re going to rely on our strength and conditioning staff and the sports science staff to make sure of what we have to do to be as fresh as possible.”
Gadowsky expressed confidence that the team is on the right track after showing added fight Friday that he didn’t see the night before against the Badgers. But that doesn’t change the result, and it doesn’t change where the team was supposed to be at this point the season.
Expectations were sky-high for this team coming into the year. It was adding a hockey phenom in Gavin McKenna, and he was joining a program that just made a run to the Frozen Four last year. This was supposed to be one of the best teams in the country and a real contender for the national title. But after its third straight loss, the Lions now sit much closer to the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament than they were expected to, and could miss out on the postseason if they lose to Minnesota Wednesday in the Big Ten Tournament.
That has to create a sense of urgency that hasn’t been as prevalent as it was on last year’s team.
“It’s definitely a different group, for sure,” senior Jared Crespo said. “I think we’re a lot higher end skill team this year than we were last year, but last year we were fighting for our lives from the start of January, and I think that kind of taught us that every game matters so much.
“And this year we — credit to us — put ourselves in a really good spot. But I think the mentality has shifted a little bit away from that. And last year’s mentality going into every game (the team was) saying that we have to win. And this year, I think we’ve been a little bit soft on that. Thankfully, we’re still in a good spot, but we need to get back to that mentality now, especially in the playoffs.”
The first part of what Crespo said is what is so confounding about this team. It is clearly more talented. It should have been a no-brainer to see the group finish better than last year. McKenna is the most talented player the program has ever seen and one of the most talented to ever play college hockey — and of late he’s been living up to expectations, catching fire over the last few months.
But there is still something missing, something the team had last year but doesn’t this year. And it’s on everyone — not just Crespo and others seniors like Ben Schoen — to get it there.
“We have no choice,” a dejected Schoen said. “It just is. This is why you play, to go to the NCAA Tournament and get a ring. We’ve got to figure it out right now and come together as a group.”
The good news is this team has learned lessons this year, according to Gadowsky. He’s seen the players grow from week to week, improving on the weaknesses that have cost it games throughout the year. And the most important weakness it’s dealing with right now is that mentality — the kind it takes to go on a run through the NCAA Tournament.
So there’s hope. Learn the lesson, improve the mentality, and play with the fire it takes to win a national title.
Or don’t.
And have what was supposed to be the best team in program history, instead, be its biggest disappointment.
