In many ways, this season has been a roller coaster for Penn State men’s hockey head coach Guy Gadowsky, particularly when it comes to keeping his centers healthy.
Before the season even began, Gadowsky lost promising forward Keaton Peters, who recorded a key assist in Penn State’s outdoor game at Wrigley Field against Notre Dame last year. The injury depleted the Nittany Lions’ depth down the middle and forced the coaching staff to reshuffle lines early.
Following the winter break, another blow came when Charlie Cerrato went down with an injury. Gadowsky has expressed hope that Cerrato could return for the Big Ten Tournament, but his absence has left Penn State scrambling to maintain balance among its forward lines.
In Cerrato’s absence, Reese Laubach successfully centered the “B-T-B” line alongside Matt DiMarsico and JJ Wiebusch. That stability allowed captain Dane Dowiak to move into a prominent role centering a line with elite offensive talents Gavin McKenna and Aiden Fink. The combination proved highly effective. In the seven full games Dowiak played with the duo, the line produced 35 points, giving Penn State one of the most dangerous trios in the conference.
However, adversity struck again when Dowiak suffered a season-ending injury against Michigan. His loss forced freshman Luke Misa, a native of Oakville, Ontario, into a critical role centering McKenna and Fink.
Misa acknowledged the adjustments required to complement two high-skill linemates.
“I think just being able to use my speed to play with them and trade off in transition,” Misa said. “We had a lot of end-zone goals too, so getting to the net was a big thing as well. But they’re easy to adjust to just because of how skilled they are.”
The Calgary Flames prospect has stepped into the role seamlessly, mirroring the success Dowiak enjoyed earlier. Misa has recorded at least one point in four of the five games since joining the line, totaling seven points (four goals, three assists) during that span. Still, he emphasized that replicating Dowiak’s willingness to do the gritty work has been essential.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“It’s definitely a big thing, getting to those dirty areas and doing some of the work that [Dowiak] was doing,” Misa said. “Guys are going to have to step up, and that’s just how it is.”
While Misa has flourished individually, Penn State has often been limited to dressing only nine forwards during this stretch, forcing Gadowsky to shorten shifts to maintain energy levels.
“I think we all knew coach would shorten our shifts a bit because we were running short,” Misa said. “Each shift, we tried to come out with good energy.”
Misa, a fifth-round pick of the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft, arrived in Happy Valley after starring in the Ontario Hockey League. He posted 81 points with the Mississauga Steelheads in 2023-24 before spending his post-draft season with the Brampton Steelheads, where he scored 34 goals and totaled 85 points in 67 games. Both marks ranked among the OHL’s top 20, making him one of the most coveted recruits in his class.
With Braeden Ford returning to the lineup against Notre Dame, Penn State’s forward depth has begun to improve. Attention now turns to Cerrato’s potential return for the postseason, which could provide another boost.
For now, though, the Nittany Lions are relying heavily on Misa to stabilize a lineup that has endured wave after wave of injuries. Much like Han Solo encouraging Luke Skywalker with the iconic phrase “May the Force be with you,” Penn State needs Misa to continue channeling his talent and composure down the stretch.
If his recent play alongside McKenna and Fink is any indication, the force may already be with him.
