Oct. 7, 2015
By Maria Canales, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Thee years ago, the Penn State men's hockey class of 2016 took the ice at Greenberg Ice Pavilion for their first Division I game. On Saturday, those same Nittany Lions will be stepping on the ice for their final season in the Blue and White.
Eight seniors will be suiting up for the Nittany Lions this season. Among those eight is Matthew Skoff, a goaltender, who thought his senior season would never come.
"I can remember during freshman year thinking I was going to be here forever," said Skoff. "It's just a little different thinking I'm going to be done in less than a year and how we as a class leave our mark is going to be up to us this year."
Head coach Guy Gadowsky noted that the senior class is filled with young men of great character and confidence. This class helped establish and define Penn State hockey when the program was new to the scene of college hockey. This class has helped bring the program to national attention.
"This is really the first class that came in here for the start of Division I," said Gadowsky. "I think they've learned a ton about Penn State University, they've learned a lot about Division I hockey."
This senior class has taken a bit of a different path than the grades below them. Most notably, the senior class didn't play their first collegiate game in Pegula Ice Arena. Instead they started in Greenberg Ice Pavilion, a 1,350-seat ice arena that paled in comparison to its successor that opened in 2013.
"They've learned a lot about transitioning to a new league and a new building," said Gadowsky.
Senior forward Curtis Loik reflected on his three previous seasons with the Nittany Lions.
"It's gone by so fast," said Loik. "I can remember my first game in Greenberg of Division I hockey, so it's insane how fast it's gone by."
Joining a new program didn't come without its uncertainties, however.
"A lot of people thought we weren't going to have our first Big Ten win until this year," said Skoff.
Loik agreed that committing to a program that has no records to go off of was a daunting idea.
"Of course [I had my doubts]," said Loik. "But when Gadowksy took me here and just talking to him, talking to the coaching staff, and talking to everyone involved, they were confident and proud of Penn State and that really translated into my decision."
Today, this senior class has brought Penn State hockey to the forefront of collegiate athletics. Gadowsky explained that the senior class has come a long way from its first season.
"This class has a lot of moxie," said Gadowsky. "I'm proud of them. They were really the original group that had to take a leap of faith. I think they deserve a lot of credit for the vision they had that could happen at Penn State and they've grown right along with it."
With the addition of Penn State's Division I hockey program, the Big Ten conference for hockey was born. Now other schools, notably Arizona State, are starting to implement their own hockey programs.
"Other schools are taking notice of the success we're having, not just in the Big Ten but the whole country," said Loik. "So it's something that is exciting to see and it'll be exciting to see when we leave what other schools do, whether it be more Big Ten teams or in other conferences."
Skoff explained how when he agreed to commit to the program, he didn't realize the historical importance of joining a new team during their years of establishment.
"Honestly I didn't really think about it," said Skoff. "I just thought about coming here and doing what I had to do to play. I just wanted to help build this program and be established and I think we've done that. And this year we have an opportunity to expand on that."
As for the season ahead, all the seniors have individual goals they'd like to achieve. Loik has set the bar high for how he hopes to end his collegiate career.
"I think it's every college hockey players goal to win the national championship," said Loik.
Loik expanded on his goals on a more personal level, noting how personal relationships both on and off the ice have made his time as a Nittany Lion special.
"I've made a lot of friendships, a lot of close relationships on this team and throughout this school, and I want to have a great year with everyone on the team. It's bittersweet but I feel like with this squad I think we can go far," said Loik.
As the Nittany Lions prepare for Canisius on Saturday, the senior class will be embarking on their final journey as a part of Penn State hockey.
"It's something special we have being the first official class so it'll be interesting this year to see what happens," said Loik.
Penn State will play at Canisius on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.