June 13, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's hockey forward Justin Kirchhevel (Brookings, S.D.) has left the program due to personal reasons, head men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky announced Thursday. The Brookings, S.D., native will return home and finish his Penn State degree through online classes.
"I want to thank the coaching staff and my teammates for an amazing experience over the last two years. It truly was an honor to represent the Nittany Lions and help set a solid foundation for the program," said Kirchhevel. "I've learned invaluable life lessons at Penn State that I will take with me forever."
"Justin was a significant part of our program's foundation and a consummate Nittany Lion on the ice, in the locker room and in the classroom," added Gadowsky. "I want to thank him for all his contributions during his time at Penn State. Justin made this decision with his family's best interests in mind. He will be missed, and we wish him well."
During the Nittany Lions' inaugural NCAA Division I season, Kirchhevel collected two goals and four assists in 16 games. The junior registered the first shorthanded goal in program history Nov. 9 against Air Force and recorded a season-high three-game point-scoring streak Jan. 15-25.
Kirchhevel began in his collegiate career at the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2010-11 and registered three points (2g, 1a) in eight games. In 24 career games between the two schools, he recorded four goals and five assists.