UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Earlier this week head coach Guy Gadowksy and the Penn State men's ice hockey team announced four signee's to its class of 2019 following the start to the 2018-19 signing period which began last week.
The Nittany Lions inked a trio of forwards in Tyler Gratton, Connor McMenamin and Kevin Wall along with defenseman Mason Snell. Gratton and McMenamin are Pennsylvania products excelling in the United States Hockey league (USHL) while Wall and Snell will travel to Hockey Valley next season by way of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL).
Tyler Gratton // F // 6-2 // 187 // L // Pottstown, Pa. // Fargo Force (USHL)
Gratton is enjoying his first season with the Fargo Force of the USHL after spending the last two seasons with the Chicago Steel where he was a teammate of current Nittany Lion freshman Oskar Autio last season and led his team to the Clark Cup Championship during the 2016-17 season. Gratton has six goals in 16 games so far this season and in 137 games over the past two-plus seasons has registered 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points.
GRATTON ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because it is a great school with an amazing hockey program and coaching staff and is very close to home, so for me it was a no-brainer."
GADOWSKY ON GRATTON
"Tyler is a great skater and can score. He will really add to our identity of being a fast team. With his unique combination of speed and size he will be able to play in all situations for us."
Connor McMenamin // F // 5-11 // 185 // L // Collegeville, Pa. // Tri-City Storm (USHL)
McMenamin is also in his third season playing in the USHL and his second with the Tri-City Storm where he is currently second on the team with 10 points on four goals and six assists. His four goals are tied for second on the team through the first 16 games this season as the Storm are 11-4-1 and tied for second placed in the Western Conference. In in 121 career USHL games, McMenamin has scored 20 goals while adding 38 assists for 58 points including a 30 point season last year.
McMENAMIN ON PENN STATE
"When the opportunity came to play hockey at such a prestigious school with a top-notch coaching staff all while receiving a high quality education, the decision was a no-brainer."
GADOWSKY ON McMENAMIN
"Connor is a 200-foot player who can score, but is also very responsible defensively and he will be a great fit for our program."
Kevin Wall // F // 6-1 // 190 // R // Fairport, N.Y. // Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
Wall has hit everyone's radar early this season as in his first year with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL he leads the league with 42 points and 22 goals while his 20 assists are tied for seventh. Prior to departing for Western Canada, Wall played two seasons at the Salisbury School in Connecticut where he scored 33 goals while adding 27 assists for 60 points in 58 games played.
WALL ON PENN STATE
"The team's tradition of success, the dedicated coaching staff, and the awesome facilities made choosing Penn State very easy. Even though it's a big campus you can still feel a sense of community. Penn State offers so many opportunities both academically and athletically and I'm excited to be a part of all of it next fall.
GADOWSKY ON WALL
"Kevin has a really good shot and loves to shoot the puck, he's a scorer. He has good size and should be able to step right in offensively without losing a step."
Mason Snell // D // 6-0 // 190 // L // Clarington, Ontario // Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Snell is currently in his first season with the Pentiction Vees of the BCHL where he ranks second on the team for defenseman with ten points on one goal and nine assists. Prior to joining the Vees, Snell played his last two seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League where he had a career year in 2017-18. Snell began the season with the Whitby Fury before leading the Wellington Dukes to the Buckland Cup Championship. Snell played in 68 total games last season scoring seven goals while adding 26 assists for 33 points. Snell was also named the 2016-17 OJHL Rookie of the Year.
SNELL ON PENN STATE
"My decision to attend Penn State was based on it being a top-notch school with exceptional facilities and a highly-regarded coaching staff. The culture at Penn State will allow me to develop as a student-athlete as well as a person."
GADOWSKY ON SNELL
"Mason is a very smart defenseman. He is a good skater and moves the puck well and we really like how he plays the game and what he will add to our blueline."
Recruiting classes are subject to change and more student-athletes can be signed throughout the entirety of the 2018-19 signing period, which runs through August 1, 2019.