Shuffling line combinations is a natural part of hockey.

Coaches typically like to keep their forward groups fresh by experimenting with different combinations over the course of a season. Most groups don’t stay intact for more than a few games, but one of Penn State men’s hockey’s lines has stayed together throughout both of the team’s successful series this year and most of last season.

Alex Limoges, Evan Barratt, and Liam Folkes have been a force for the Nittany Lions. Their line was originally created so Folkes, a sophomore at the time, could mentor his two then-freshman left-handed partners. 

The trio quickly found chemistry together, mostly because their styles of play complement each other well. Folkes has speed to burn combined with excellent goal-scoring ability, Barratt’s a chippy player effective on every part of the ice, and Limoges has some of the best puck skills on the team.

The line combined for four goals and nine assists throughout last weekend’s sweep of Niagara at Pegula Ice Arena. Barratt scored a goal and recorded two assists in the first contest of the series, while Folkes notched a career-high four points to be named the game’s first star.

“Obviously, they’re a high-producing line in terms of offensive opportunities, but they do it in a pretty safe way,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said following his team’s 8-2 victory Friday night.

Gadowsky praised Folkes for the improvement he’s made over the course of his Penn State career, particularly in his ability to protect the puck and his well-roundedness.

“I think the best thing about [Folkes] is the decision he made to be a 200-foot player, and specifically not to turn pucks over,” Gadowsky said. “The difference from him when he got here to where he is now is night and day. He is leaps and bounds a much, much better hockey player.”

Folkes gives plenty of credit for his improvement to his linemates. He and Barratt agreed that they’ve never had as much fun on a line as they do in their trio with Limoges, a sophomore from Winchester, Virginia.

All three forwards have become excellent players at the collegiate level, but their line wouldn’t work as well as it does if they didn’t genuinely enjoy playing with each other.

“I’m sure you guys can see how much fun we’re having,” Barratt said. “Whether it’s practice or pregame skate, we’re so happy to be on the ice together. It’s kind of easy when going into a game because of how much fun we have out there together.”

Limoges found it hard to put into words how much he enjoys spending time with Barratt and Folkes on the ice and away from the rink. It was his turn to have a big night Saturday — he scored a goal and added an assist after tallying just one assist in Friday night’s victory.

“I can’t describe it,” he said. “It’s so much fun. It feels like we’re all working out of one brain, too. All of us know what each other’s thinking. You don’t see that as much in games, but more during practices and off the ice, it’s so much fun.”