Penn State men’s hockey’s nine newcomers’ start with the Nittany Lions has been anything but ordinary.

Walking into Pegula Ice Arena for the first time amid a global pandemic, eight true freshmen and graduate transfer Tim Doherty started the season off not being able to bond with their entire team. Broken up into small groups as small as three people, they didn’t have the usual integration that new members typically experience. Combine that with a delayed, shortened season and rigid health protocols, the nine were in for an awkward and disadvantageous start.

Nonetheless, the nine student-athletes did the best they could during the season’s first phase. While some stood out more than others, the newest Nittany Lions show promise, and we’ve perhaps just seen the tip of the iceberg.

Before the rest of the season really gets going, here’s how the newest Nittany Lions are shaping up.

Christian Berger

Skating in all eight games for Phase I and, so far, the first game of Phase II, Berger has zero points thus far. The defenseman put up solid numbers during his  2019-2020 season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers, registering 22 points in 44 games, but we have yet to really see his offensive skills show themselves. Berger is by no means a poor defenseman, and we still have yet to see what he can really accomplish. Virtually invisible on the ice but still flashing glimpses of his solid two-way playing style and high hockey IQ, Berger could hopefully break out soon.

Jimmy Dowd Jr.

Dowd has consistently stood out so far. Suiting up for six of the Nittany Lion’s eight games in Phase I and the first game of Phase II, Dowd is second amongst all defensemen with three points (one goal, two assists). In Gadowksy’s own words, the New Jersey native has been very effective in slowing down the pace of the game and making effective plays.

Looking comfortable on the ice and integrating himself into the team, Dowd really came in clutch for the Lions during their first win of the season against Michigan on December 3. The defenseman made a phenomenal pass to Aarne Talvitie to tie the game, and his ability as a solid two-way defenseman was on full display. Dowd has proven himself to be a great asset to the Nittany Lions and is a player worth keeping an eye on.

Tim Doherty

As a graduate student, Doherty is another new asset who has been able to mesh with Penn State well so far. Doherty has six points (three goals, three assists,) and has played in every game this season.

The forward has great chemistry with captain Alex Limoges, which is apparent just by watching them on the ice together. The duo really stood out during those last few games of Phase I, especially on December 11 against the Sun Devils. Doherty made a beautiful pass to Limoges that allowed Limoges to give the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead. Later in the game, Doherty buried the puck in the back of Arizona’s net to expand the lead to 2-0.

Doherty’s own playmaking ability, as well as his chemistry with Limoges, makes him another player you’ll want to watch as the season goes on. 

Christian Sarlo

Suiting up for seven of the Nittany Lions eight games during Phase I and the first game of Phase II, Sarlo put up three points (two goals, one assist) during Phase I. A solid asset to the team, Sarlo has 16 shots on goal, two of which hit the back of the net.

Even with that many, though, Sarlo is a relatively quiet player. Not very flashy when he gets out onto the ice, Sarlo only really makes himself known when he’s trying to score. Sarlo’s a solid player, and with plenty of more games in Phase II, the rest of his development and integration with Penn State appears promising.

Chase McLane

The Michigan native played in six of the Nittany Lion’s games in Phase I, and the first game on January 3 of Phase II. The center, who was drafted by the Nashville Predators (No. 209 overall) this season, creates many scoring opportunities. McLane has two points (one goal, one assist) about a third of the way into the season, notching both of those during the Nittany Lion’s first win of the season against Michigan. Expect to see continual solid performances from McLane as the season progresses.

Xander Lamppa

Lamppa suited up for five games during Phase I, putting up two points (one goal, one assist,) and played in the first game of Phase II. Lamppa made an addition to the Doherty-Limoges line on the December 11 game against the Sun Devils. While he didn’t rack up any points, he enabled Limoges and Doherty to each earn a point, and the triad had eight total shots out of 50 shots on goal.

The three were able to generate high-quality scoring chances throughout the game and keep the Nittany Lions in the attacking zone. If the group can continue to generate scoring chances and produce through the beginning of Phase II, expect to see more of Lamppa on the top line.

Tyler Paquette

A Collegeville, Pennsylvania native, Paquette played in five games for the Nittany Lions during Phase I. Just like Berger, he’s been unable to rack up any points. He’s described as a physical player with strong skating skills who is a self-described strong shooter, but we have yet to see these attributes in action on the ice. With 19 games left to play this season, Paquette will hopefully find his groove.

Jared Westcott

Playing in all eight games during Phase I, Westcott stood out with his energy and skill. Racking up five points (one goal, four assists,) Westcott is a fun player to watch on the ice. He put up three of his five points, one goal and two assists, during the December 3 game against Michigan. Speedy and dynamic, Westcott resembles a young Brendan Gallagher. Westcott, like Dowd and Doherty, is a player to keep an eye on throughout Phase II. And with the way he plays, it’ll be easy to.

Liam Soulière

In between the pipes for three of eight games during Phase I, Soulière has an average save percentage of .860. He’s played only three games with Penn State so far, though, so it’s best to take that figure with a grain of salt. With such a low sample size, including the adjustment to college hockey, it’s not a good indication of Soulière’s true talent.

In the 2019-2020 season with the BCHL’s Victoria Grizzlies, Soulière had a save percentage of .917 in 15 games, and in 2018-2019 with the CCHL’s Brockville Braves he had a save percentage of .930 in 37 games. With about two-thirds of the season remaining and 19 games left on the schedule, it’s more likely than not we will see Soulière in the net again and get a more accurate representation of his skills soon enough.