Oct. 23, 2013
By Michael Renahan, GoPSUSports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Head coach Guy Gadowsky has been very high on his crop of newcomers this season and transfer players Eric Scheid and Patrick Koudys have been near the top of that list - and for good reason.
The two have displayed tremendous talent in the early going of the season and have become crucial assets for the Nittany Lions. It's no surprise they're also roommates and have developed a good friendship off the ice, as well as on, in 2013.
"It's been good. All the guys are great here. The coaches are great and that made it an easy transition," Koudys said. "It's nice actually rooming with [Eric] Scheid; it helped us create good chemistry on the ice."
In just three games, Scheid, a 5-foot-10 forward, has brought a bit of swagger to his line. He isn't afraid to shoot the puck and has done a great job of setting up his fellow linemen with opportunities. His stick handling and composure on the ice have stood out, as well.
"I think its been great so far, but it's obviously a lot different, too," Scheid said. "It's been a good ride so far. I'm enjoying it and I'm happy and I'm looking forward to what's to come."
Scheid spent last season with the Alaska Anchorage in the WCHA. At Alaska, he registered a freshman leading 15 points with six goals and nine assists.
Here at Penn State he has already established himself as a key offensive threat, scoring a team-high two goals on five shots. Gadowsky praised his forward for being able to play a different kind of hockey than he expected when he arrived on campus. He says he loves the gritty side of Scheid.
"I wouldn't consider it [playing down low] a huge skillset of mine because I'm not a big guy," said Scheid. "However, I'm not afraid to go to the dirty areas and do whatever it takes."
Scheid netted an empty netter in the season opener to cap off a memorable evening for the Lions. The Blaine, Minn. native followed that up when he converted a rebound off a Mark Yanis shot into a goal at Air Force last weekend.
"His first goal was an empty net goal, but you saw [his quickness]," said Gadowsky. "He has extreme speed and yet you also see that he can get in dirty areas. He protects the puck really well down low. He's a little bit more cerebral and that aspect of his game has impressed me."
Koudys has been a force defensively for the Nittany Lions as well. He has helped establish a physical presence on defense while making the smart, quick play to create fast breaks for the offense.
He's been solid help for goalkeepers Eamon McAdam, PJ Musico and Matthew Skoff and isn't afraid to shoot the puck or put somebody into the boards.
The Smithville, Ontario, native has made his presence felt in every game this season and he continues to showcase the talents that got him drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals.
As Gadowsky said last week, Koudys is simply "playing like a man."
As a sophomore at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2011, the defensemen played a very similar role for the Red Hawks. He was pivotal to the success of the team at the blue line and he credits that season as the reason he is having success here at Penn State.
The second year head coach stressed the importance to ignore the plus/minus numbers right now and focus on all the good things he has seen out of Koudys.
"{Patrick] blocks a ton of shots and he's very difficult to play against as a defensemen," said Gadowsky. "He really is what we need in that sense. It's interesting; sometimes the plus/minus [stats] doesn't reflect a game. His plus/minus isn't up there, but trust me, in terms of defense and defending, he is top notch right now for us."
"It means a lot [to be praised like that]," Koudys said. "I've been working out a lot working on my game on and off my ice so to hear something that means a lot and I just have to keep it grinding."
The 6-foot-3 defender has already registered a six blocked shots, a clear sign he doesn't shy away from the puck.
Penn State continues to grow with each new game and the continuity of the team is getting stronger and stronger. That continuity is something that this team will need as the season progresses and the Big Ten schedule gets underway.
The Nittany Lions return to action at 7 p.m. this Friday against RIT at Pegula Ice Arena, before hitting the road for Saturday's contest against Vermont in the Wells Fargo Center, home of the Philadelphia Flyers. The game will be aired on the Comcast Network and starts at 5 p.m.
--NITTANY LIONS--