The Penn State men’s hockey season is right around the corner. After an offseason full of major roster additions and NHL-caliber commitments, the Nittany Lions are primed for a historic year.

Most notably, consensus first overall pick in next year’s NHL draft, Gavin McKenna, joined the squad. The former Western Hockey League forward is a generational talent who brings immense potential to the group.

With the team coming off a 22-14-4 season (9-11-4 Big Ten) and the program’s first Frozen Four appearance, a national championship is the end goal for Guy Gadowsky’s squad. Here is a prediction as to how the lineup will look in pursuit of the ultimate goal.

First Line 

Gavin McKenna – Reese Laubach – Aiden Fink

The addition of Gavin McKenna was the best thing that could have happened for Fink and Laubach. His elite skating and stickhandling abilities will bolster an already talented top line and provide an abundance of scoring opportunities that last year’s group lacked down the stretch. 

In McKenna’s 2024-25 season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, he tallied a whopping 129 points, comprising 41 goals and 88 assists in just 56 games played. This record-setting run also featured an improbable 54-game point streak.

Aiden Fink returns after receiving Hobey Baker finalist honors and will look to take an even bigger step forward. Last season, he was 4th in the nation in points with 53, including 23 goals on the year. He ​​was awarded West CCM/AHCA Second-Team All-American and was also a finalist for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Laubach will continue to serve as the top line center, as has been the case since 2023. His 2024-25 campaign was his best season wearing the blue and white, as he set career highs with 15 goals and 15 assists.

Second Line 

Matt DiMarsico – Charlie Cerrato – JJ Wiebusch

The second line is what propelled Penn State through its magical postseason run last year. The trio led the team in scoring during that stretch, as Wiebusch and DiMarsico both produced iconic, game-winning, overtime shots.

The chemistry of this line was strong. They were able to play with speed while also being aggressive on the forecheck. Wiebusch and Cerrato will be entering their sophomore seasons with the team, so there is certainly room for growth.

The oldest member of the line, Matt DiMarsico, is coming off a career year. He finished second on the team in goals with 17, and was seventh in the Big Ten in this category. 

Third Line 

Shea Van Olm – Luke Misa – Lev Katzin

The third line will likely consist of all new additions from the Canadian Hockey League. Van Olm was a left winger in the WHL who led the league with 49 goals, while racking up 92 points on the season. His scoring abilities will provide Penn State with great depth in its bottom-six forward group. 

Luke Misa registered consecutive seasons of at least 80 points in the OHL, and will be a great compliment to Van Olm’s offensive skill. Like Van Olm, Misa plays a very fast-paced game. His edgework is incredibly strong as well.

Lev Katzin earned OHL rookie of the month honors in December, and looks to bring offensive potential to the third line. He has great vision and a strong passing skillset. Andrew Kuzma recently announced that he would sign with the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL, so Katzin will act as his replacement on this line.

Fourth Line 

Dane Dowiak – DeGraves – Ben Schoen

New Nittany Lion captain Dowiak will lead the fourth line for Penn State after a 12-goal season last year. After becoming the first forward to wear the “C” for the blue and white in half a decade, Dowiak will look to boost some offense into the bottom-six. 

After Keaton Peters announced that he would miss the season with a knee injury, DeGraves should be the next man up to fill his spot. DeGraves tallied nine points last season, and he scored the lone goal for the Nittany Lions in the Frozen Four. He is a bottom-six forward who will look to step up in his sophomore season.

After returning from an injury last season, Schoen tallied a career high of seven goals. He had a strong performance in the Big Ten tournament, accounting for four points in the sweep of Michigan, and also tallied an assist in the Frozen Four. 

First Defensive Pairing 

Jackson Smith – Nolan Collins

Smith was another big get this offseason for the Nittany Lions. The WHL defenseman was selected 14th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in this year’s NHL draft and brings tremendous talent to the blue line. Guy Gadowsky says Smith is “one of the most beautiful skaters you will ever see in your life.” Look for the newcomer to play a huge role in the success of this Penn State team.

Nolan Collins is another OHL addition to the Penn State roster. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2022 draft pick will bring balance to the blue line in the absence of Cade Christensen. Gadowsky announced in his press conference that Christensen would be out until at least Christmas.

Second Defensive Pairing 

Mac Gadowsky – Jarod Crespo

Mac Gadowsky was a major transfer for Penn State. He was a Hobey Baker finalist at Army and will now play under the leadership of his father. Gadowsky and Smith are far and away the two best defenseman on this roster, but they will likely be split up to balance out the pairings. 

Crespo was ranked third on the team last season in blocked shots with 57. He will provide a veteran presence as he enters his senior year. Offensively, he recorded seven points last season. Nick Fascia may also fill this spot following a strong performance in the postseason.

Third Defensive Pairing 

Carter Schade – Casey Aman

Schade and Aman act as a veteran pairing in the Penn State lineup. The duo is coming off a strong season as the second pairing and will serve as great blue line depth.

Starting Goaltender

Kevin Reidler

While Guy Gadowsky has not yet committed to a starting goalie for the season, he expects Reidler to get the nod at Arizona State. Last season, he recorded a .920 save percentage and a 4-1-0 record. He won a silver medal for Sweden at the IIHF World Junior Championships and would act as a replacement for star Nittany Lion goalie Arsenii Sergeev.

Guy Gadowski has raved about Reidler’s talent and has even compared him to Sergeev. He also speaks highly of former CHL goalie Josh Fleming, who will continue to compete for the starting role.