Penn State men’s hockey captain Paul DeNaples is returning for one more season in Hockey Valley, head coach Guy Gadowsky confirmed on Monday.

“He really helps us on the ice, but also off,” Gadowsky said during Monday’s press conference.

The head coach went on to describe how important DeNaples has been to rebuilding the culture the team had lost last season due to the pandemic.

The defenseman is wrapping up his fourth season with the Nittany Lions. He’s totaled six goals, 26 assists, 32 points, and a plus 50 plus/minus throughout his Penn State career. His signature moment of the season so far came at Wisconsin, when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime.

Paul DeNaples called game pic.twitter.com/HQ2uA1h56Z

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The Moscow, P.a. native has played in all 32 games so far this season with a plus 12 plus/minus but has just one goal, five assists, and six points. His lengthy amount of veteran experience is something that Gadowsky values heavily.

“All DeNaples has been…a very important piece of the culture,” said Gadowsky.

DeNaples’ veteran presence is important in mentoring younger, budding stars of the program such as Ryan Kirwan, Danny Dzhaniyev, Ben Schoen, and Liam Souliere, since those players could take a huge jump in the near future.

DeNaples was announced as team captain in early September 2021 after serving as an alternate captain the season before. He is the ninth captain in program history, succeeding Alex Limoges.