Dec. 5, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Tyler Feldman, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -The two may be miles away from home, but their journey together to Penn State has helped mold the friendship of a lifetime. Penn State women's hockey Juniors Micayla Catanzariti and Celine Whitlingerare were both integral pieces in Penn State's transition to a Division I program and have taken the team to new heights, but the similar paths that each took in arriving in Happy Valley is like California Dreamin'.
"Both are fabulous, fabulous players in their own right," said head coach Josh Brandwene. "You have great hockey being played in the state of California. And, historically it goes back to the Wayne Gretzky trade."
Catanzariti and Whitlinger "We've been through a lot together," said Catanzariti. "It's made coming here so much easier. Especially being so far away from home, just having someone from home who knows everything about you..."
"...Brings a little piece of home with you," said Whitlinger finishing Catanzariti's sentence.
The voyage starts in California, takes a one-year pit stop in Ohio and then finishes in Happy Valley.
Anaheim Ducks
Catanzariti hails from Rancho Santa Margarita and Whitlinger is from Garden Grove, but their routes first crossed at the age of 13 when each starting playing on the Anaheim Ducks club team.
"We did so much traveling [with the Ducks]," said Catanzariti. "We'd leave Thursday night on a red eye, play six games and then get back Sunday night in California. It was a lot of traveling."
The two Californians played for the Ducks for four seasons (2007-2010), helping guide the club to three bronze medals at the National Championships.
Gilmour Academy
However, the hockey road doesn't end there for them. Rather, due to their excellent play for the Ducks, the duo got recruited prior to the start of their senior year of high school to attend Gilmour Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, to further their hockey careers.
"It was like if you go, I'll go, but we were probably both going to go regardless," Whitlinger said about attending Gilmour Academy with Catanzariti.
Unlike California hockey, where Catanzariti and Whitlinger played side-by-side with guys their age, Gilmour Academy provided an environment that was similar to that of the women's collegiate game.
"The game is completely different in California," said Catanzariti. "They are stronger, faster, they hit, but they weren't allowed to hit us, but it was still more physical. Then in Gilmour we played other girl's high school teams, so I think that really prepared both of us for here [Penn State]. We were on the ice every day at Gilmour, which was different. We practiced three or four times a week in California, but at Gilmour we'd skate every day."
Penn State
After a tournament in Ohio, Brandwene recruited Catanzariti.
"We had seen Micayla pretty much right out of the gate as the program was launched during that transition year," said Brandwene. "She made an immediate impression on me with her work ethic, her intensity, and just those intangibles that she brings to the game along with her skill set. So that's where that process started. I'm thrilled that it worked out and glad that she saw Penn State as a great fit for her. She continues to do great things for us."
Then, Whitlinger followed suit.
"Basically I committed [to Penn State] and convinced Celine," said Catanzariti.
"I saw [Whitlinger] in the process just a little bit later and also brings all the attributes we look for in a Penn State women's hockey player," said Brandwene. "She is a terrific student who is very dedicated to her schoolwork, a fabulous teammate, has great character, and she's a tremendous athlete in goal and continues to have great success here."
While Catanzariti has tallied one assist this season, Whitlinger has posted a 4-4 record in net to go along with 2.88 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
According to Brandwene, having two Californians on the team has created a very natural, comfortable and fun-loving family environment. Combining their unique, positive personalities with their big time contributions make for one proud head coach.
"They bring great intensity and great spirit to the program," said Brandwene. "I'm honored to have the opportunity to coach both of them individually and collectively."
Californication and the rest of the Nittany Lions (7-6-3, 2-3-1 CHA) travel to Pittsburgh this weekend to take on Robert Morris (4-10-3, 1-3-2 CHA) in a two-game series at 84 Lumber Arena.