UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - When Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky spoke for the final time this season, it was in a situation no one could have foreseen.
In an alternate world, Penn State would have been nearly a week removed from its first NCAA Tournament games at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Perhaps, in a perfect world, the Nittany Lions would be gearing up for a trip to Detroit to participate in the program's first Frozen Four.
Obviously, there are things more important than Penn State hockey, as Gadowsky pointed out; but, for a team that was rolling at the end of the season, it stings to not know how far it could have gone.
"We were finally getting healthy and coming together and learning a lot of lessons," Gadowsky said over a Zoom call with reporters. "I think they were hungry to prove they were going to go far in the NCAA Tournament."
Prior to learning the season had been cancelled, it was business as usual for Gadowsky and the rest of the program. Penn State was preparing for a Big Ten semifinal matchup with Minnesota when other conferences began cancelling their tournaments.
Facing the reality of a season cut short was not easy. Gadowsky reflected on how special of a group this year's team was and what each player meant to the program. After winning Penn State's first regular-season Big Ten championship, there was still a lot to be happy with from this season.
"We told the guys how well they did, and they should be really proud, get sized for your rings and we'll see you later," Gadowsky said.
It can be tough to reflect in circumstances like this. The most accomplished class in the program's brief history won't get a chance to skate together for one final game. It wasn't known at the time, but Penn State's 3-2 win over Minnesota on Feb. 22 was the final game for the 10-player senior class.
That game against the Gophers was Penn State's championship moment, and the Nittany Lions knew they had to win that game to have a chance.
31-seconds after Nikita Pavlychev tied the game 2-2, Kevin Wall netted only his second-career goal to give Penn State the lead. It happened to be one the biggest goals of the season, and the one that propelled Penn State to the top of the Big Ten.
"I am extremely proud of the regular-season Big Ten championship," Gadowsky said. "If you look at the teams that are in our conference and how well they did and how great these teams are, this is a really good conference and the teams are tough."
Before Gadowsky turns the page to the next chapter of Penn State hockey, he'll continue to be grateful for what this senior class gave to the Nittany Lions.
It's a group that won the Big Ten championship as freshmen in 2017, made two NCAA tournaments in 2017 and 2018, and were poised to make another run this year.
"It was the most successful team we've had here, it's unfortunate we couldn't find out how far they could really go," Gadowsky said.
Moving forward, Penn State and Gadowsky will look to replace the 10 seniors, in addition to any underclassmen who sign professional contracts. It will be a tall task, but one Gadowsky is confident in as he sees a lot of potential in the rising underclassmen.
One area that stands out from the younger players is their leadership qualities, which Gadowsky credits to the graduating class for passing that down.
"A lot of them are going to be wearing letters and be special on their own," Gadowsky said. The older guys were great for them and they will be a big help with whatever challenges are ahead."
It remains to be seen whether the next era of Penn State hockey will usher in success similar to the last four years, but Gadowsky knows the next group has similar potential.
"What has us most excited is that they are quality people," Gadowsky said. "They were great guys when they came in here and now that they've been surrounded with the senior class, it makes them even better. We look forward to having these special people take the reins of this program."
