# 2019–20 Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey season

The 2019–20 Penn State Nittany Lions men's ice hockey season was the 14th season of play for the program and the 7th season in the Big Ten Conference. The Nittany Lions represented Pennsylvania State University and were coached by Guy Gadowsky, in his 9th season.
On March 12, 2020, the Big Ten announced that the tournament was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Chase Berger | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) |
| Chris Funkey | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (Retired) |
| Derian Hamilton | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (Signed with Norfolk Admirals) |
| Kevin Kerr | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Retired) |
| Ludvig Larsson | Forward | Sweden | Graduation (Signed with Binghamton Devils) |
| Alec Marsh | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Fayetteville Marksmen) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Tyler Gratton | Forward | United States | 20 | Pottstown, PA |
| Bobby Hampton | Forward | United States | 21 | Middletown, NJ; transfer from Northeastern, red shirt |
| William Holforster | Goaltender | Canada | 21 | Mississauga, ON; previously played club hockey, did not play |
| Kenny Johnson | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Connor MacEachern | Forward | Canada | 20 | Brooklin, ON |
| Connor McMenamin | Forward | United States | 20 | Collegeville, PA |
| Clayton Phillips | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Edina, MN; transfer from Minnesota |
| Mason Snell | Defenseman | Canada | 19 | Clarington, ON |
| Kevin Wall | Forward | United States | 19 | Penfield, NY; selected 181st overall in 2019 |

## Roster

As of September 3, 2019.

## Standings

2019–20 Big Ten ice hockey Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | 3/SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #9 Penn State | 24 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 41 | 79 | 70 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 121 | 88 |
| #10 Ohio State | 24 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 38 | 62 | 62 | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 91 | 80 |
| #17 Michigan | 24 | 11 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 38 | 65 | 52 | 34 | 16 | 14 | 4 | 92 | 72 |
| #18 Minnesota | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 38 | 66 | 62 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 95 | 94 |
| Notre Dame | 24 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 59 | 59 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 90 | 91 |
| Michigan State | 24 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 54 | 54 | 34 | 15 | 17 | 2 | 80 | 82 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | 7 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 63 | 89 | 34 | 14 | 18 | 2 | 110 | 124 |
| Championship: March 21, 2020 † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll; updated March 1, 2020 ||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and Results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Exhibition ||||||||||
| October 6 | 1:07 PM | vs. Ottawa* | #13 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania (Exhibition) | | Jones | W 5–0 | 1,236 | |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 11 | 7:07 PM | vs. Sacred Heart* | #13 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 8–2 | 6,062 | 1–0–0 |
| October 12 | 4:37 PM | vs. Sacred Heart* | #13 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 5–4 | 6,111 | 2–0–0 |
| October 18 | 7:30 PM | vs. Alaska* | #9 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 7–0 | 5,898 | 3–0–0 |
| October 19 | 7:07 PM | vs. Alaska* | #9 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Autio | L 0–4 | 6,146 | 3–1–0 |
| October 25 | 7:07 PM | vs. Robert Morris* | #12 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 2–1 | 5,799 | 4–1–0 |
| October 31 | 7:01 PM | vs. #7 Wisconsin | #12 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Jones | W 6–1 | 5,793 | 5–1–0 (1–0–0–0) |
| November 1 | 6:01 PM | vs. #7 Wisconsin | #12 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Jones | W 4–2 | 5,980 | 6–1–0 (2–0–0–0) |
| November 8 | 7:07 PM | vs. Michigan State | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | L 0–2 | 6,071 | 6–2–0 (2–1–0–0) |
| November 9 | 6:07 PM | vs. Michigan State | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 6–4 | 5,936 | 7–2–0 (3–1–0–0) |
| November 15 | 8:05 PM | at Minnesota | #8 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | Jones | W 8–2 | 8,032 | 8–2–0 (4–1–0–0) |
| November 16 | 8:05 PM | at Minnesota | #8 | 3M Arena at Mariucci • Minneapolis, Minnesota | FSN+ | Jones | W 6–3 | 8,203 | 9–2–0 (5–1–0–0) |
| November 22 | 7:07 PM | vs. #11 Ohio State | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 5–4 | 5,739 | 10–2–0 (6–1–0–0) |
| November 23 | 6:07 PM | vs. #11 Ohio State | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | L 3–4 | 5,213 | 10–3–0 (6–2–0–0) |
| November 29 | 7:00 PM | at Merrimack* | #7 | J. Thom Lawler Rink • North Andover, Massachusetts | | Autio | W 7–0 | 1,961 | 11–3–0 (6–2–0–0) |
| November 30 | 6:05 PM | at #15 Massachusetts–Lowell* | #7 | Tsongas Center • Lowell, Massachusetts | | Jones | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,766 | 11–4–0 (6–2–0–0) |
| December 6 | 8:37 PM | at Michigan | #6 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | FS1 | Jones | L 1–4 | 5,246 | 11–5–0 (6–3–0–0) |
| December 7 | 7:31 PM | at Michigan | #6 | Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan | | Jones | W 3–1 | 5,444 | 12–5–0 (7–3–0–0) |
| December 13 | 7:05 PM | at #15 Notre Dame | #7 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | NHL Network | Jones | W 4–2 | 3,806 | 13–5–0 (8–3–0–0) |
| December 14 | 6:05 PM | at #15 Notre Dame | #7 | Compton Family Ice Arena • Notre Dame, Indiana | | Jones | L 0–3 | 4,306 | 13–6–0 (8–4–0–0) |
| January 3 | 7:07 PM | vs. Niagara* | #8 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 3–2 | 5,497 | 14–6–0 (8–4–0–0) |
| January 4 | 6:07 PM | vs. Niagara* | #8 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Autio | W 2–0 | 5,819 | 15–6–0 (8–4–0–0) |
| January 11 | 7:05 PM | vs. Robert Morris* | #6 | Colonials Arena • Neville Township, Pennsylvania | | Jones | W 6–2 | 3,312 | 16–6–0 (8–4–0–0) |
| January 17 | 7:00 PM | vs. Michigan | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | L 0–6 | 6,294 | 16–7–0 (8–5–0–0) |
| January 18 | 6:00 PM | vs. Michigan | #6 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Autio | T 4–4 $^{3x3OTL}$ | 6,278 | 16–7–1 (8–5–1–0) |
| January 24 | 7:00 PM | at #19 Michigan State | #9 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | | Jones | L 2–4 | 6,017 | 16–8–1 (8–6–1–0) |
| January 25 | 6:00 PM | at #19 Michigan State | #9 | Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, Michigan | BTN | Jones | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 6,017 | 17–8–1 (9–6–1–0) |
| January 31 | 6:00 PM | vs. Notre Dame | #8 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 6,226 | 17–8–2 (9–6–2–0) |
| February 1 | 6:00 PM | vs. Notre Dame | #8 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | | Jones | L 2–4 | 6,475 | 17–9–2 (9–7–2–0) |
| February 7 | 7:00 PM | at #13 Ohio State | #9 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Jones | T 2–2 $^{SOL}$ | 7,704 | 17–9–3 (9–7–3–0) |
| February 8 | 5:00 PM | at #13 Ohio State | #9 | Value City Arena • Columbus, Ohio | | Jones | W 6–3 | 9,295 | 18–9–3 (10–7–3–0) |
| February 14 | 8:02 PM | at Wisconsin | #9 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | | Jones | L 3–4 | 9,095 | 18–10–3 (10–8–3–0) |
| February 15 | 8:02 PM | at Wisconsin | #9 | Kohl Center • Madison, Wisconsin | FSW | Jones | W 3–2 | 13,054 | 19–10–3 (11–8–3–0) |
| February 21 | 8:31 PM | vs. #18 Minnesota | #11 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Jones | T 3–3 $^{3x3OTW}$ | 6,151 | 19–10–4 (11–8–4–1) |
| February 22 | 6:31 PM | vs. #18 Minnesota | #11 | Pegula Ice Arena • University Park, Pennsylvania | BTN | Jones | W 3–2 | 6,328 | 20–10–4 (12–8–4–1) |
| Big Ten Tournament ||||||||||
| Tournament Cancelled ||||||||||
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||||||

## Scoring Statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Nate Sucese | LW | 34 | 11 | 27 | 38 | 16 |
| Evan Barratt | C | 34 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 28 |
| Alex Limoges | C | 30 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 8 |
| Cole Hults | D | 34 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 18 |
| Liam Folkes | C | 33 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 6 |
| Brandon Biro | LW | 25 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 8 |
| Denis Smirnov | LW/RW | 31 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 6 |
| Aarne Talvitie | C/LW | 30 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 2 |
| Sam Sternschein | LW | 29 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 10 |
| Nikita Pavlychev | C | 27 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 44 |
| Connor McMenamin | LW | 32 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 2 |
| Paul DeNaples | D | 34 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 4 |
| Connor MacEachern | F | 34 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 18 |
| Kris Myllari | D | 34 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Clayton Phillips | D | 27 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 20 |
| Kevin Wall | RW | 26 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Evan Bell | D | 25 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Tyler Gratton | RW | 31 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 |
| Mason Snell | D | 26 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Alex Stevens | D | 20 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Max Sauvé | F | 14 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Peyton Jones | G | 30 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| James Gobetz | D | 26 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Kenny Johnson | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Adam Pilewicz | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Blake Gober | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oskar Autio | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 2 |
| Total | | | 121 | 218 | 339 | 280 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Oskar Autio | 5 | 256 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 106 | 2 | .930 | 1.87 |
| Peyton Jones | 30 | 1780 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 77 | 876 | 1 | .919 | 2.60 |
| Empty Net | - | 27 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 34 | 1063 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 88 | 982 | 3 | .918 | 2.56 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 13 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| USA Today | 9 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |

## Players drafted into the NHL
### 2020 NHL Entry Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 7 | 209 | Chase McLane† | Nashville Predators |
† incoming freshman