Taylor Holstrom, Penn State hockey’s top-line center and leader in assists, will likely be out for the season. Head coach Guy Gadowsky announced the extent of the injury at a press conference today. Gadowsky said Holstrom’s leg “isn’t broken, but he can’t put any weight on it.”

Holstrom, who has 7 goals and 26 assists in 29 games this season, took an awkward fall in the third period of his team’s last game against Ohio State. With his team leading by one goal and with 15 minutes to play in the game, Holstrom was knocked to the ice and twisted his leg. He left the ice after that play and didn’t return. Without him in the lineup, his team surrendered three straight goals and fell to the Buckeyes 5-3.

Holstrom was one of two Hobey Baker Award nominees from Penn State this season, alongside Casey Bailey. As the team’s top center, he plays a huge role on the ice, and his coach and fellow players have spoken all season about his importance off of it.

“The response [to Holstrom leaving the game Saturday] you saw was genuine. I think everybody really knows how much he means to the team, not just on the ice but to the team. You can see how the guys feel about him,” Gadowsky said.

David Goodwin, usually the top-line left winger, will play center in Holstrom’s absence, and Tommy Olczyk will move up to take Goodwin’s spot. The Nittany Lions will play their first games without Holstrom this Friday and Saturday at home against the Michigan Wolverines.