The leaves are falling, the air is cooler, and hockey season has arrived.

As the season soon starts, a new change of team leadership skates onto the ice. Junior forward Dane Dowiak was announced as the 2025-26 captain of the Nittany Lions last week. Jarod Crespo joins him as an alternate captain.

Last season, Dowiak caught the attention of head coach Guy Gadowsky. After multiple games, Gadowsky praised Dowiak in all aspects of the game, from his leadership down to how tough he is in the dot.

After the split against No. 2 Minnesota, Gadowsky had nothing but good things to say about Dowiak’s play. “I think somebody who deserves credit is Dane [Dowiak],” he commented. “He deserves a lot of credit this weekend.”

During the Nittany Lions’ postseason pursuit, they beat UConn in overtime to head to their first-ever Frozen Four. Dowiak was named the Most Outstanding Player, along with being added to the Allentown Regionals All-Tournament Team. 

“That couldn’t be more fitting because, not only did he produce offensively, but much more important to us, it was the attitude that he brings,” Gadowsky said. “How he has played, not necessarily the stats that show up, but how he has played has been a big part of it.”

Gadowsky continued to reiterate Dowiak’s importance to the team, commenting on how he even handed off the Thor Hammer he was given to Carter Schade out of selflessness, who could not participate in the tournament due to injury. 

During the off-season, the players voted on who they wanted to serve as the next Penn State captain. Dowiak made his presence known in the locker room the past two seasons, and his teammates’ choice in leadership reflected that.

Gadowsky remarked on how Dowiak was chosen as the 2025-26 season captain. “This is one where, certainly, the coaches agree with it, but the players spoke pretty loudly,” he said. “I think it’s because he’s just a team guy through and through.” 

He continued elaborating on Dowiak with comments about his accountability, mental toughness, and how essential he is to the team’s success. “He loves Penn State and embodies it, but I think he really has an ability to show play for the team,” he commented.

Dowiak expressed immense gratitude when talking about stepping into the captain role. “Obviously, it was a huge honor,” he said. “Past guys have taught me so much, so I felt like I was pretty prepared. But at the same time, I just follow the support from my teammates.”

Dowiak knew it was his teammates who chose him, but he was also grateful for those who came before him. “Two [captains] that come to mind, Christian Berger and Simon Mack, those guys were obviously tremendous people, tremendous hockey players, but they were really good leaders,” he said. “They did everything the right way, on and off the ice and in the classroom.”

Crespo, the team’s alternate captain, had multiple compliments regarding Dowiak as captain. “He does everything right,” he said. “He’s vocal where, when he needs to be vocal, he doesn’t do too much and he just does the right things.”

Crespo himself has been described as a “natural leader” by not only Gadowsky but also his teammates. 

Gadowsky went in-depth about Crespo’s multiple leadership qualities. He commented on his intelligence, along with his constant presence on the team. “When Jared [Crespo] is at his best, he leads through example,” he said. “I’m not sure I remember him playing on a team where he wasn’t the captain.” 

The North Carolina native had the same sense of gratitude that Dowiak expressed: honored to be put in that position. 

“I’m super honored that guys want me in that position,” he said. “Our goal this year is to win a national championship, and I obviously will do everything I can as a leader to keep our sights focused on that.”

Sophomore forward Charlie Cerrato did not doubt in his mind that Dowiak and Crespo were to be the team’s leaders.

“It was pretty clear that those two were going to be our captains,” he said. “Both of them compete and work their butts off all the time. And I mean, they’re just two selfless guys who were winning for the team every time.”