May 13, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky announced Monday the additions of four players, including an NHL draft pick and three freshmen, who will join the Nittany Lions for their first season of Big Ten play in 2013-14.
The additions include junior defenseman Patrick Koudys (Smithville, Ont.) and freshmen forwards Ricky DeRosa (Aston, Pa.) and Dylan Richard (Sherwood Park, Alta.) and defenseman Mike Williamson (Leduc, Alta.). The quartet will join the five student-athletes - David Goodwin, Eamon McAdam, Zach Saar, Eric Scheid and David Thompson - announced in November as Nittany Lion newcomers this fall.
"This group will be a great addition to the incoming student-athletes we added during the early-signing period," said Gadowsky. "Patrick Koudys and Mike Williamson add size and strength to our blue line, while both Dylan Richard and Ricky DeRosa bring high levels of character and hockey-IQ to our forwards."
A 2011 fifth-round draft choice of the Washington Capitals, Koudys played his freshman and sophomore seasons at RPI before skating with the United States Hockey League's Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2012-13. DeRosa hails from the Port Huron Fighting Falcons of the North American Hockey League, while Richard and Williamson were teammates on the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Spruce Grove Saints. Both Richard and Williamson played with Nittany Lion forward David Glen (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) in Spruce Grove.
The 2013-14 season will mark the first year of the Big Ten, which includes Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions will begin their 20-game conference slate with a two-game series against Wisconsin Dec. 6-7 before hosting Minnesota in their first Big Ten home series Jan. 12-13. Penn State will open the 2013-14 campaign at Pegula Ice Arena Friday, Oct. 11 against Army.
Season ticket deposits for the inaugural season at Pegula Ice Arena are still being accepted and can be placed by calling 1-800-NITTANY Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. or by visiting the Bryce Jordan Center Athletic Ticket Office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fans who place their season ticket deposits by end of business day May 24 will be given priority when seat selection begins July 16.
Ricky DeRosa (F | 6-1 | 185 | Aston, Pa. | Port Huron Fighting Falcons (NAHL))
Appeared in 135 regular-season games with the North American Hockey League's Port Huron Fighting Falcons from 2010-13 ... As team captain in 2012-13, skated in 59 regular-season games and led team in points (42) and assists (26) and tied for first in plus/minus (plus-15) and shorthanded goals (2) ... Added team-leading seven points (3g, 4a) in six playoff games ... Participated in the 2013 NAHL Top Prospects Game ... Named Team MVP and earned team's Leadership Award ... In 2011-12, recorded 36 points (8g, 28a) in 59 regular-season games ... Assistant captain ... Helped lead Port Huron to the North Division title ... Notched four points (1g, 3a) in eight playoff games ... Collected four points (1g, 3a) with Port Huron in 17 games in 2010-11 after starting the season with the Amarillo Bulls ... Recorded 10 points (7g, 3a) with Amarillo ... Also played for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (2009-10), the Philadelphia Little Flyers (2007-09) and Cardinal O'Hara High School (2006-10) ... In 2009-10, helped Cardinal O'Hara to the Flyers Cup championship.
Gadowsky on DeRosa: "Ricky's known as a high-character guy. He has a great work ethic and is known for being a 200-foot player who will work hard in all three zones."
Patrick Koudys (D | 6-3 | 210 | Smithville, Ont. | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)/RPI (ECAC Hockey))
Selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (147th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft ... In 2012-13, appeared in 64 regular-season games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League ... Collected 15 points (1g, 14a) ... Played in three playoff games ... Teammate with future Nittany Lion freshman Zach Saar ... Skated in 27 games with RPI during his sophomore season in 2011-12 ... Gathered two points (1g, 1a) ... Played in 31 games as a freshman to help lead RPI to the NCAA tournament ... Collected one goal and two assists ... Attended the NHL Research and Development Camp ... In 2009-10, played for the Burlington Cougars with Nittany Lion sophomore Luke Juha ... Earned the Most Promising Player, Top Defenseman and Rookie of the Year awards ... Garnered the Top Prospect Award from the Ontario Hockey Association ... Assistant captain for Team Canada in the 2010 Three Nations Tournament ... Member of the Welland Jr. Canadians in 2008-09 ... Played in the Prospect All-Star Tournament for the CCHL Young Stars.
Gadowsky on Koudys: "Patrick has experience at the NCAA level and is a big, solid defenseman who takes pride in being a tough person to play against. He takes care of his own zone first and fits a need very well for us."
Dylan Richard (F | 6-0 | 185 | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL))
Member of the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League for parts of four seasons (2010-13) ... Teammate of future Nittany Lion freshman Mike Williamson and current Nittany Lion David Glen ... In 2012-13, appeared in 42 regular-season games and led Spruce Grove in goals (22) and points (42) ... Helped lead Spruce Grove to the North Division championship ... Added 12 points (7g, 5a) in 16 playoff games ... Named to the Reebok North Division All-League Team and was a finalist for the league's MVP award ... Helped lead Spruce Grove to the 2011 Enerflex Cup as AJHL champions ... Notched 41 points (19g, 22) in 51 regular-season games and compiled three goals and five assists in 10 postseason contests ... In 2010-11, played in 43 regular-season games and accumulated 26 points (9g, 17a) ... Skated in 13 playoff games and collected two goals and three assists ... Played in two games during the 2009-10 season ... Won a silver medal with Team Canada West at the 2012 World Junior "A" Challenge ... Also played for the Sherwood Park Kings and Sherwood Park Squires.
Gadowsky on Richard: "Dylan has an extremely high hockey-IQ both offensively and defensively. He's a winner and a tremendous leader who always plays for the team. His habits will quickly transition to Penn State."
Mike Williamson (D | 6-3 | 195 | Leduc, Alta. | Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL))
Listed in the NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings in advance of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft ... Played parts of three seasons with the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League ... Teammate with future Nittany Lion freshman Dylan Richard and current Nittany Lion David Glen ... Skated in 23 regular-season games in 2012-13 and collected 11 points (1g, 10a) ... Helped lead Spruce Grove to the North Division championship ... Added four points (1g, 3a) in 15 playoff games ... Collected nine goals and nine assists in 41 regular-season games in 2011-12 ... Gathered six points (4g, 2a) in 11 playoff games ... Named Rookie of the Year and to the AJHL All-Rookie Team ... Also played for the Leduc Oil Kings ... Was named the team's top defenseman in 2008-09.
Gadowsky on Williamson: "Mike has great feet with a huge shot from the point. He will be a welcomed addition to our blue line."