The most anticipated season in Penn State’s men’s hockey program is just a week away when the puck drops in Tempe against Arizona State. Before it does, conference preseason honors have been awarded to three Nittany Lion skaters.
Big Ten coaches recognized three Nittany Lion players on its annual All-Big Ten preseason, the most of any team in the Big Ten.
On the First-Team is junior forward Aidan Fink, who set single-season school records for goals (23), assists (30), and points (53) that garnered him national recognition as a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Fink played a critical role on Penn State’s first trip to the Frozen Four in St. Louis last season.
Joining Fink for First-Team accolades is defenseman Mac Gadwosky, son of head coach Guy Gadowsky, who transferred in from Army West Point.
Gadowsky led all defenseman nationally in scoring last season with 42 points that earned him recognition as a Hobey Baker Finalist.
Big Ten coaches placed forward Gavin McKenna on the All-Big Ten Second Team.
McKenna, who is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, arrived from Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he finished second in scoring with 129 points.
During the Tigers championship season in the WHL, McKenna was named the regular season MVP.
McKenna became the third youngest recipient (Sidney Crosby and John Taveres) of the David Branch Player of the Year Award, given to the top player of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a league comprised of the WHL, Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
While expectations are high for the Nittany Lions on the ice, Big Ten coaches picked them to finish second behind two-time Big Ten champion Michigan State.
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