Penn State Men's Hockey Roster
Penn State Men's Hockey Roster is a subject of great interest among the fans of the sport. The team has gone through several ups and downs over the years, but it still remains one of the most competitive teams in the country. In this comprehensive guide, we will take a deep dive into the Penn State Men's Hockey Roster, including the current players, their strengths, and weaknesses, as well as the team's overall performance in recent years.
The Current Roster: A Breakdown
The Penn State Men's Hockey Roster for the 2021-2022 season includes 28 players. Let's take a closer look at the different positions and players:
Forwards:
There are 16 forwards on the roster for the 2021-2022 season. Among them are some of Penn State's top scorers from last year, such as Alex Limoges, Aarne Talvitie, Connor McMenamin, and Kevin Wall. Limoges, who was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award last year, led the team with 24 points (8 goals, 16 assists). Talvitie, who was recently named captain, was second on the team with 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists).
Defensemen:
There are 8 defensemen on the roster for the upcoming season. Among them are players such as Clayton Phillips, Christian Sarlo, and Jimmy Dowd Jr. Phillips, who transferred from Minnesota, is expected to be a key contributor on the blue line. Sarlo, who missed most of last season due to injury, is expected to be a key player this year. Dowd Jr. is a freshman who is expected to make an immediate impact.
Goaltenders:
There are 4 goaltenders on the roster for the upcoming season. Among them are returning players such as Oskar Autio, Liam Souliere, and Christian Berger, as well as freshman Henrik Laursen. Autio is expected to be the starter, after posting a .909 save percentage last year.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Penn State Men's Hockey team has several strengths and weaknesses that will impact their performance this year:
Strengths:
One of the team's biggest strengths is their offense. With the return of several key players such as Limoges, Talvitie, and Wall, the team is expected to be one of the top scoring teams in the country. They also have a solid power play, which ranked 13th in the country last year.
Another strength of the team is their depth. They have several players who can contribute on both ends of the ice, which gives them the ability to roll four lines and wear down their opponents.
Weaknesses:
One of the team's biggest weaknesses is their defense. Last year, they allowed an average of 3.8 goals per game, which ranked 56th in the country. They also struggled on the penalty kill, which ranked 49th in the country.
Another weakness of the team is their goaltending. Autio, who is expected to be the starter, had a .909 save percentage last year, which was below average. The other goaltenders on the roster have limited experience, which could be a concern if Autio struggles or gets injured.
Recent Performance
The Penn State Men's Hockey team has had mixed results in recent years. In the 2020-2021 season, they finished with a record of 9-11-0, which was below expectations. However, they did manage to qualify for the Big Ten tournament, where they upset Notre Dame in the first round before losing to Minnesota in the semifinals.
Before the pandemic, the team had several successful seasons. In the 2019-2020 season, they finished with a record of 20-11-4 and qualified for the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. They also won their first Big Ten tournament championship.
Conclusion
The Penn State Men's Hockey Roster is full of talented players who have the potential to compete with the best in the country. While the team has some weaknesses, such as their defense and goaltending, they also have several strengths, such as their offense and depth. With a solid recruiting class and some key returning players, the team has the potential to improve on last year's record and make a run at the Big Ten championship.
