Oct. 3, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- On the heels of a strong start during exhibition action last weekend, the Nittany Lion women's hockey team heads into the regular season behind not one, but two confident goalies.
With Penn State opening up regular season play this weekend, head coach Josh Brandwene plans to balance play between junior goalie Celine Whitlinger and freshman goalie Hannah Ehresmann throughout the course of the year.
"Our modus operandi is that we let [our goalies] know on Thursday prior to practice what the situation is for the weekend," said Brandwene.
In last Friday's, 5-2, exhibition win over Western at Pegula Ice Arena, Whitlinger and Ehresmann split time, each accumulating about 30 minutes of play between the pipes.
"I was really pleased on Friday with the way both of them, Celine and Hannah, conducted themselves," said Brandwene. "They played fantastically."
As a result of the equitable time allotted to both goalies in the lone exhibition, the question regarding the starting goaltender for the season surfaced.
"We take things one day at a time here," said Brandwene. "We expect everybody to come and grind it out everyday in practice."
A substantial explanation as to why Brandwene has been compelled to rotate between a veteran and a rookie in the crease is due to the additional coaching that the goalies have received.
This past offseason, Brandwene added former Mercyhurst net minder Courtney Drennen to his coaching staff. Drennen brings with her the expertise and experience to help blossom the team's goalies.
"Courtney [Drennen] is doing a great job," said Brandwene. "She's doing an awesome job developing and continuing to grow them as athletes and their craft as goaltenders."
Brandwene adds that his goalies are hungry for feedback and want to get better. In lieu of the quote-on-quote competition, Whitlinger and Ehresmann plan to continue playing and communicating at high levels.
"We're just working hard everyday on the ice, off the ice trying to get better," said Whitlinger. "So, that competition aspect definitely pushes us a little more, but at the end of the day, we're still friends."
The younger Ehresmann sees similarities between her game and Whitlinger's, an observation that helps make sense of Brandwene's decision to share playing time.
"We're both similar goalies," said Ehresmann. "We're both butterfly goalies. We tend to go down more than stay up. So I just look at [Whitlinger's] game and see what techniques she uses, and I mirror them sometimes."
Gratitude is a word that Brandwene spoke about at Wednesday's media availability. And, for Whitlinger and Ehresmann, having that trait while competing and sharing time is integral to Penn State's success this season.
Just two years ago, Whitlinger laced up her skates as a freshman. She knows what adjustments need to be made to find success at the collegiate level. As a result, she has taken the necessary strides to mentor the younger Ehresmann.
"[Whitlinger] has definitely helped me a lot," said Ehresmann. "She's taught me the ropes of what we do before the games...and other specific goalie things."
Brandwene echoed the words of Ehresmann when asked about Whitlinger's leadership.
"[Whitlinger] sets a tremendous example," said Brandwene. "She's a terrific worker, and she just comes to work everyday in practice and gets better and better."
Penn State's season commences with a challenging road trip to Minnesota this weekend. Tonight the Nittany Lions take on the top-ranked Golden Gophers and tomorrow night the Blue and White go against St. Cloud State. Both games will take place at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
Whitlinger is expected to start in net against Minnesota and Ehresmann the nod versus St. Cloud State.
"I like where our team is right now, and I'm looking forward to the 60-minute challenge," said Brandwene.
"[Whitlinger] has definitely helped me a lot," said Ehresmann. "She's taught me the ropes of what we do before the games...and other specific goalie things."
Brandwene echoed the words of Ehresmann when asked about Whitlinger's leadership.
"[Whitlinger] sets a tremendous example," said Brandwene. "She's a terrific worker, and she just comes to work everyday in practice and gets better and better."
Penn State's season commences with a challenging road trip to Minnesota this weekend. Tonight the Nittany Lions take on the top-ranked Golden Gophers and tomorrow night the Blue and White go against St. Cloud State. Both games will take place at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
Whitlinger is expected to start in net against Minnesota and Ehresmann the nod versus St. Cloud State.
"I like where our team is right now, and I'm looking forward to the 60-minute challenge," said Brandwene.