Penn State men’s hockey heads to Columbus, Ohio, this week to face the Buckeyes to open Big Ten play.

Last season, Penn State could not get into the win column in Big Ten play until the second half of the season. The team was 0-9 in Big Ten play until it gained a point after it defeated Notre Dame in South Bend. As most fans know, the team flipped, then went on to flip the switch and made a historic appearance in the Frozen Four.

This time around, head coach Guy Gadowsky wants his team to be ready for what is to come. For some time, he has been preparing his team to have the mindset that the Big Ten is different.

“For a few weeks now, we’ve been referencing that it’s going to be a different deal,” he said. “It is when any teams get together in the Big Ten, I don’t care if it’s hockey or football or wrestling or anything else, it’s always a little bit different.”

The Big Ten can be challenging to play in, regardless of the circumstances. Penn State will play the next two series on the road, with Ohio State this weekend and Michigan State the next. Other than the series against Arizona State, Penn State played all its conference series at home. The question has been raised whether or not the Nittany Lions have been tested at this point in the season.

“I do think we’ve been tested. I do think, again, that the Big Ten is a different deal,” Gadowsky said. “So, are we where we have to be or where we want to be? No, and we’re going to be much better in a month, and we’re going to be much better than that month after that. But college hockey is a very fickle business right now and again. So that’s why I say, every win in college hockey matters.”

Before diving into Big Ten play, Gadowsky acknowledged that his team is still developing in key areas such as faceoffs, special teams, and shift management, and that they need to be mindful of Ohio State. 

“They [Ohio State]  were the best team that we’ve seen in the neutral zone and their neutral zone defense. They were the absolute best,” he said. “If we don’t manage the puck, it’s going to be a long night.”

Forward Charlie Cerrato said that while the team understands the intensity that comes with conference play, they do feel more composed this time around.

“I think there’s pressure every game,” Cerrato said. “We still feel it, but I think we’re a lot more comfortable with it now.”

When asked how the team handles that pressure, especially being dubbed as the “hunted” this season, Cerrato said the key is focusing on the game and blocking out distractions.

“Pressure is just tuning it out, honestly, staying off of social media,” he said. “Don’t read any of the comments or articles or anything like that. Just having fun and playing your game, believing you’re the best team, best player on the ice.”

As Big Ten play begins, Cerrato emphasized that the Nittany Lions know what it takes to succeed.

“I think we know exactly how we need to play,” he said. “It’s up to us to go out and do that.”

He added that getting off to a strong start in conference play will be crucial after last year’s slow beginning.

“Starting with a couple wins is huge,” Cerrato said. “Last year, it was do or die every game for us. So I mean, it’s still going to be do or die every game.”