Penn State hockey has added a towering forward to its recruiting pipeline.
Maxmilian Mares, a 17-year-old from Ostrava, Czechia, announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Instagram Monday night. The 6-foot-6 forward currently plays for Rimouski Océanic in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, where he has opened his first season with 16 points in 15 games.
Mares has scored six goals and contributed 10 assists since joining Rimouski ahead of the 2026-27 campaign. His early production puts him above a point per game as he adjusts to junior hockey in North America.
Before making that move, Mares developed in his hometown with HC Vítkovice, progressing from the under-15 team to the under-17 level. He joined the Bílí Tygři Liberec organization for the 2025-26 season and divided his time between its under-17 and under-20 squads.
Across those two teams, Mares finished with 23 goals and 19 assists in 53 regular-season appearances. Most of that work came against older competition: He recorded 20 goals and 15 assists in 47 games with Liberec’s under-20 team. In six under-17 appearances, he added three goals and four assists.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.His resume also includes experience representing Czechia at the under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels.
At the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Mares produced three goals and three assists in four games for Czechia’s under-18 team, providing another example of his offensive contributions beyond club competition.
According to his Elite Prospects profile, Mares shoots left and can play center or wing. He is eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, adding another milestone to a development path that has already taken him from Czech youth hockey to the QMJHL.
Many NHL draft analysts have Mares as a first rounder with hope that he would be lighter on his feet as a skater.
For Penn State, the commitment brings a prospect with considerable size, international experience and a productive start in Canadian junior hockey.
