Penn State Hockey Players In Nhl
Pennsylvania State University has a long history of producing talented hockey players who go on to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Nittany Lions have had many successful NHL players over the years, including several current players. Here's a look at some of the most successful Penn State hockey players in NHL history.
Joe Battista
Joe Battista was a standout player for Penn State in the early 1980s. He went on to play professionally for several years before eventually becoming the associate athletic director for ice arena and hockey development at Penn State. Battista has been credited with helping to establish the Nittany Lions' varsity hockey program, which began in 2012.
Andrew Sturtz
Andrew Sturtz played for Penn State from 2015 to 2018, where he quickly established himself as a fan favorite. He was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie Team in his freshman season and went on to become one of the most prolific scorers in Penn State history. Sturtz signed with the Ottawa Senators as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and has played for their AHL affiliate since then. He's currently one of the Senators' top prospects and could make his NHL debut in the near future.
Nate Sucese
Nate Sucese played for Penn State from 2016 to 2020 and finished his career as one of the program's all-time leading scorers. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent in March 2020 and played for their AHL affiliate during the 2020-21 season. Sucese is a skilled forward who could develop into a solid NHL player with time.
Cole Hults
Cole Hults played for Penn State from 2017 to 2020 and was one of the program's top defensemen during his time there. He signed with the Los Angeles Kings as an undrafted free agent in March 2020 and played for their AHL affiliate during the 2020-21 season. Hults is a smooth-skating defenseman with good offensive instincts, and he could become a regular NHL player in the future.
Casey Bailey
Casey Bailey played for Penn State from 2012 to 2015 and quickly established himself as one of the program's top forwards. He signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and played for their AHL affiliate for two seasons before making his NHL debut in 2016. Bailey played in eight NHL games during the 2015-16 season and scored one goal. He went on to play in the KHL and other European leagues before retiring from professional hockey in 2020.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many Penn State hockey players who have gone on to play in the NHL. The Nittany Lions have a proud hockey tradition, and it's likely that we'll see many more of their players make an impact in the NHL in the coming years.