Just like that, Penn State men’s hockey has only four games left in its season.

Without the guarantee of a home Big Ten Tournament game, it’s a reality setting in fast for seniors who may be suiting up in blue and white for the final time inside Pegula Ice Arena this weekend.

This class of seniors, though, has the option to return and use their extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing athletic season cancellations. Penn State’s current seniors entered the collegiate landscape during the pandemic ahead of the 2020-21 season, and because of the restrictions around the program at that time, head coach Guy Gadowsky says the group missed out on valuable peer leadership.

Despite the missing pieces, Gadowsky says the veteran leadership in the locker room has been critical throughout the ups and downs that the 2023 Nittany Lions have had. Through it all, the brotherhood and respect the players have for each other never disappeared.

“They kill it in the classroom. They’ve become unbelievably positive role models and leaders,” Gadowsky said. “But it’s not just about grades, it’s about doing the right thing. It’s about taking care of yourself. It’s about being accountable, and they are so much that.”

Liam Souliere and Christian Berger are often cited by Gadowsky as being the culture drivers in the locker room. They’re the type of players Gadowsky has grown used to developing, and the coach rattled off the names of all the captains and leaders that came before the current group to showcase the line of students he’s gotten to coach.

“For you to win games at this time of the year, you need excellent culture in the locker room,” Gadowsky said. “Every season goes through peaks and valleys, but the culture and the environment of our locker rooms have never been questioned, ever.”

It’s that same culture Gadowsky is hoping will lead the Nittany Lions to a much-needed upset over the Badgers this weekend. Currently, Penn State sits sixth out of the seven teams in the Big Ten and needs wins through the rest of the regular season and into the Big Ten Tournament.

With not a lot of time left to prove themselves, the pressure is on for the Nittany Lions. Gadowsky believes it’s nothing new, and every game since Christmas has been a fight with the Pairwise rankings.

“I would say there are about 26-28 teams that are in that feeling right from the start,” Gadowsky said. “To be honest with you, it’s what makes college hockey so fun.”

The Nittany Lions are coming off a series split with Michigan over the weekend and Gadowsky said the team finally started feeling the fun in college hockey again after the 4-2 victory on Saturday.

Penn State has struggled to put together a complete game for much of the season. Goaltending, special teams, and offense have all come under scrutiny from Gadowsky during the season. On Saturday night, besides minor concerns from Gadowsky, the team fired on all cylinders.

“I think the biggest difference between Friday and Saturday was our mental preparation to compete,” Gadowsky said. “If we can take that mentality with us this weekend, that’s what’s going to be most important.”

Gadowsky will once again turn to the veterans in his locker room to carry that mentality into the last two series of the regular season. Souliere, Berger, and the rest of the seniors have a very important role to play in the locker room culture but none greater than setting the tone for the future.

“They really got to see what happens when you don’t have that peer accountability and leadership, so that’s what they’re gonna leave with,” Gadowsky said. “They’ll leave with absolute understanding about the importance of peer leadership and what it means.”