Feb. 20, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
The third campaign for Penn State women's hockey has reached historic levels as the regular season draws to a close. With a program-record 15 wins, and a nine-fold increase in College Hockey America (CHA) wins, the Nittany Lions are flying high with the CHA Playoffs approaching.
While all aspects of Penn State's game have been solid, one major facet of the Nittany Lions' success can be attributed to the sisterhood and extraordinarily tight bond among the team.
Like any family, each Nittany Lion would do whatever she could to help out her sister. That selflessness extends to Penn State's play on the ice, which frequently includes diving in front of a slap shot.
"I would say our team is very selfless," said junior captain Jordin Pardoski. "There isn't one thing that one girl wouldn't do for another, so blocking shots is just really a part of the family atmosphere and vibe that we have going here ... We're family-oriented. Each of us looks at each other as sister. "
Pardoski and her defense partner freshman Remi Martin have combined for 62 blocks this season, while sophomore Kelly Seward and freshman Bella Sutton have thrown themselves in front of 91 shots.
But blocking a shot does more than stifle a strong forecheck. A well-timed and perfectly-placed blocked shot can be a major momentum swing for a team.
"It's a boost for the whole bench. It's a momentum changer," said head coach Josh Brandwene. "It's a badge of honor thing that all players, forwards and `D' are responsible for. If you have an opportunity and the moment to get in the lane, sacrifice yourself a little bit on behalf of the team."
Penn State's strong shot blocking game has also been evident in the solid play of the Nittany Lions' netminders, freshman Hannah Ehresmann and junior Celine Whitlinger. The goalies have combined for a 2.40 goals against average, over .50 lower than the previous program record of 2.98, set in 2012-13. Individually, Whitlinger is a two-time CHA Goaltender of the Month and Ehresmann has earned CHA Rookie of the Week honors.
Throwing oneself into the line of fire with a small piece of rubber careening at a high speed could be called crazy for some. But for the Nittany Lions, nothing gives them the thrill more than the selfless act of blocking a shot.
"It's like a mini pump up for us," said Pardoski. "The whole bench gets going when someone has a blocked shot. It's just a change of momentum. It's exciting."
The Penn State Nittany Lions will play in Pegula Ice Arena for the regular season finale this Friday and Saturday against Robert Morris.