Matt DiMarsico Inks Entry-Level Contract with NHL’s Colorado AvalancheMatt DiMarsico Inks Entry-Level Contract with NHL’s Colorado Avalanche

Matt DiMarsico Inks Entry-Level Contract with NHL’s Colorado Avalanche

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Junior forward Matt DiMarsico (Wexford, Pa.) became the 14th Nittany Lion in program history to put pen to paper on an NHL contract as he signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the Colorado Avalanche the club announced on Monday afternoon.

DiMarsico will report to American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on an AHL contract for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign with his ELC set to begin with the 2026-27 season.

MHKY-Signed-DiMarsico

DiMarsico, who just completed his best collegiate season, joins teammate Kevin Reidler (Ottawa) who also inked his ELC on Monday along with Arsenii Sergeev (Calgary), Alex Limoges (Washington), Aarne Talvitie (New Jersey), Peyton Jones (Colorado), Cole Hults (Los Angeles), Evan Barratt (Chicago), Nate Sucese (Arizona), Brandon Biro (Buffalo), Andrew Sturtz (Ottawa), Casey Bailey (Toronto), Eamon McAdam (New York Islanders) and Vince Pedrie (New York Rangers) who also agreed to NHL contracts following their time at Penn State.

“Personally, I love Matt’s story; he was not given anything other than an opportunity and started at the very bottom. He worked extremely hard on his individual game and paid close attention to team play and the result was great improvement year-after-year,” mentioned head coach Guy Gadowsky. “We are all extremely proud of DD for everything he has accomplished and the memories he has given this program and wish him the very best in his pro career.”

DiMarsico, who was named a 2026 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention, became just the 10th Nittany Lion all-time to reach 100 career points and just the 11th Nittany Lion all-time to hit the 40-point mark in a season in 2025-26. He finished his career in Hockey Valley with 100 points on 42 goals and 58 assists in 111 games.

The Wexford, Pennsylvania native posted career highs across the board this season with 42 points on a team-best 18 goals while adding 24 assists to rank sixth in the Big Ten and tied for 16th in the nation in scoring. The junior tallied a Penn State record three hat-tricks on the year and was named Big Ten First Star of the Week twice this season.

DiMarsico’s 42 points tied for the sixth-most in a single-season in program history while his 18 goals tied for seventh while ranking tied for sixth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally.

DiMarsico scored the overtime-winner against UConn in the Allentown Regional Final in 2025 sending the Nittany Lions to their first-ever Frozen Four. He finished his career with 42 goals to rank just outside the top-10 in 11th all-time while his 100 points are good for 10th all-time.

“My time as a Nittany Lion was more than I could have ever hoped for. The friends and experiences that Penn State has given me will last a lifetime,” commented DiMarsico. “All the support from the staff and the entire Penn State community has really helped me grow as a player and a person and be able to take this next step in my hockey journey. I will always be honored and grateful to be a part of the Penn State family. WE ARE.”

Full Colorado Avalanche Release

Penn State concluded its season with a loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the Albany Regional semifinals and a 21-14-2 overall record after advancing to its third NCAA Tournament in the past three seasons.