Four lines play three periods sporting the White & Blue, Penn State sweaters when there's a men's hockey game at Pegula Ice Arena.
What those in the stands see results from hours of work put in. On the practice rink, in the weight room, and even spending time in the locker room.
Many spectators of the Nittany Lions might not realize how much time is spent together outside of Penn State's athletic facilities. Sophomore forwards Ben Schoen and Danny Dzhaniyev are a duo that builds chemistry nearly 24/7.
The two grew up miles apart. Schoen, a native of Maumee, Ohio, and Dzhaniyev hailing from Brooklyn, New York grew up in different worlds. However, that didn't slow down their connection.
"In the summer, I visited him back in Brooklyn, and we grew pretty close," Schoen said. "I think when we're on the ice, we just know where each other is at, and it's easy to make plays when you're reading off one another."
Since being paired with senior forward Tyler Gratton following the opening weekend of play the trio has contributed 16 points to the highest-scoring team in the nation.
Dzhaniyev being 5'4, and Schoen, standing at 5'8, the duo doesn't tower over everyone on the ice, but head coach Guy Gadowsky says if you looked at what they produce on paper, you wouldn't know their size.
"You look at [Ben] Schoen and Danny [Dzhaniyev], and you immediately don't necessarily think of big, strong, tough guys, but I tell you what, if you look at wins on pucks, you'd think they are both 6'6 and 300 pounds," Gadowsky said.
Schoen was recently named the B1G First Star of the Week, and he credits nearly everyone but himself.
"If I'm having a good night, it's because our entire line is having a good night. It depends on the whole line's play," commented Schoen.
Without the time spent outside the practice facility, Schoen and Dzhaniyev wouldn't feel comfortable on the ice and emphasize that team building is as important as practice. The duo has combined for 13 points in the six games so far this season, and the offensive opportunities are because they feel closer than ever before.
"We spent every minute of every day together in the summer," Dzhaniyev said. "No one leaves to go somewhere else without all the boys being there, so it made it better for us as a class and for us to be closer together. I think that's the main thing that everyone bought into."
Dzhaniyev and Schoen consider themselves the "goofballs" that are constantly together, which is the one thing that others on the team can find obnoxious (in a good way).
A few days ago, the battery in Schoen's car died, and while it wasn't an ideal experience for anyone involved, it was a perfect example of non-traditional team building.
"We were doing nothing but waving people down and getting rejected [for help] for two hours," Dzhaniyev said. "Being together and talking, that's what brings us closer."
For this line, while the two sophomores are close friends, they credit their third linemate Tyler Gratton to much of their success.
Initially, the three weren't as close due to more time spent in Hockey Valley for Gratton and their nearly three-year age gap.
However, the time spent together heading into and during this season has helped this line figure it out and create chemistry.
"Without Tyler [Gratton], this line wouldn't be as successful as it is or has been so far," Dzhaniyev said. "Because we needed that big body that can always get in the corners when we're not there and be smart enough to create a play whenever he's in a challenging situation. So, without him, this line is nothing."
The chemistry built between Schoen and Dzhaniyev is some of the best Hockey Valley has to offer.
Friendship leads to knowing their playing style more every day, no matter what ice sheet they're skating on.
They consider each other best friends, believing it will benefit them throughout their playing days at Penn State.
"We know what to do with each other, and we've gotten close," Schoen said. "It's a weird sense we have that we can always find each other on the ice, which is nice."
Schoen and Dzhaniyev are regular friends off the ice, but the two as a pair are a lot more for the opposition to handle on the ice.
