Forwards Gavin McKenna and captain Dane Dowiak earned the Big Ten’s top star weekly honors following Penn State’s statement-making road sweep of then-No. 5 Wisconsin, the conference announced Tuesday morning.
McKenna was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week, while Dowiak collected Second Star recognition after both players delivered dominant performances in Madison.
McKenna continues a remarkable freshman campaign, earning weekly honors for the second straight week and the third time this season. He led the Big Ten and tied for the national lead with four goals and five points over the weekend, powering the Nittany Lions to a pair of victories that extended their Big Ten winning streak to a program-record seven games. The sweep also marked Penn State’s first-ever against a top-five opponent.
The rookie recorded the first hat trick of his collegiate career and added an assist in Friday’s 7-2 win before scoring again in Saturday’s 3-1 victory. McKenna now has points in five consecutive games and goals in three straight, while producing in eight of his last nine contests. He leads Penn State and ranks second in the Big Ten in conference scoring with 19 points on seven goals and 12 assists in 14 league games.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Dowiak was equally impactful, tying for the Big Ten and national lead with five points on three goals and two assists. He registered his first career hat trick on Friday, highlighted by a shorthanded, game-winning goal, before adding two assists Saturday. Dowiak now leads the nation with four shorthanded goals, a Penn State single-season record, and sits second all-time in program history with six.
Friday’s win was historic, as Dowiak and McKenna combined for the first multi-hat trick game in Penn State history, underscoring a weekend that further cemented the Nittany Lions as a Big Ten contender.
