One former Penn State women’s hockey player is making the jump from college to the big leagues.

The Minnesota Whitecaps selected goaltender Jenna Brenneman No. 24 overall in this year’s National Women’s Hockey League Draft. Brenneman is now the first Nittany Lion to ever be drafted by an NWHL team.

The Eagan, Minnesota, native started her college career at Clarkson University before transferring to Penn State in 2018. Brenneman’s best season came during her first year at Penn State when she ranked first in the league in goals-against average (1.74) and second with a .927 save percentage. She’s third in Penn State history in career goals-against average (1.77) and fourth in career wins (13).

“Jenna is a competitor and culture driver,” head coach Jeff Kampersal said in a release. “She had a great 2018-19 season for Penn State and helped turn our program around.  We’ll always be appreciative of her team-first attitude and wish her luck with the Whitecaps. I am glad she gets to go back home and play.”

Brenneman suffered an injury two games into the 2019-20 season that kept her out for the remainder of that season and the 2020-21 season, too. The ailment opened the door for freshman netminder Josie Bothun to take over this past season, leading to the program’s first USCHO.com Rookie of the Year honors and CHA Goalie of the Year honors.

Brenneman joins a strong Minnesota team that lost in the 2021 Isobel Cup final to the Boston Pride. She will likely need to battle for a roster spot behind former Golden Gopher and 2018 NWHL Goaltender of the Year Amanda Leveille.