Third time’s the charm for Charlie Cerrato.

Penn State men’s hockey forward Charlie Cerrato was drafted in the second round by the Carolina Hurricanes with the No. 49 overall selection. Cerrato is the second Nittany Lion taken in the 2025 NHL Draft after commit Jackson Smith was taken in the first round by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday.

This is the third time Cerrato entered his name in the NHL Draft, but the first time he heard his name announced. He entered his first two drafts as No. 222 and No. 175 best North American player, but after a year in Hockey Valley, his stock jumped to No. 110 before this year’s edition of the draft.

During his first season with the Nittany Lions, the Fallston, Maryland, native played in 38 games, scoring 15 goals and adding 27 assists for 42 total points. He also had a great season defensively, constantly going against some of the best forwards in the country during Big Ten conference play.

“Cerrato’s game shines brightest defensively and in support. He’s always engaging opponents, whether he’s clamping down on their sticks or lining them up for hits,” Elite Prospects wrote in their 2025 NHL Draft Guide. “Then, he attacks off the rush, charging down the wing until there’s an opening. If the defence backs off, he cuts inside for a chance. If they step up, he cuts back and sets up the trailer.”

Similar to baseball, players selected in the NHL Draft do not have to report to their teams right away and can continue to develop in college. NHL teams retain the rights to a college player they’ve drafted until 30 days after the player has left college. This means Cerrato’s selection by the Hurricanes is not a formal goodbye to his college career.