Newest Nittany Lions lead Penn State to comeback victory over AIC

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – In a return to Pegula Ice Arena for the first time in the 2023-2024 season, it was the fresh faces of the No. 12 Penn State Nittany Lions that secured a 3-2 victory over AIC.

The anticipation for the home opener for Penn State, coming off an NCAA Tournament run last season, was nothing short of immaculate.

The Roar Zone, which has been labeled as one of the premier college hockey fan bases in the nation, proved just why it’s been called such, filling up Pegula Ice Arena over an hour before puck drop.

“It never ceases to amaze me,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “I can’t tell you how inspiring that was for the guys.”

Despite the warm welcome back home, the Nittany Lions started off slow yet again, unable to find their footing in a first period that would end up scoreless.

It wouldn’t take long into the middle frame for the blue and white to light the lamp, however, as Ryan Kirwan finished a perfect 3-on-1 feed from Xander Lamppa.

Kirwan continues his hot streak, now with goals in each of the first four games and a total of six points.

“[Kirwan] has got an unfair weapon, his shot is just elite,” Gadowsky said. “When he gets room to get it off, he’s just so dangerous.”

The Yellow Jackets were swarming and buzzing soon after, potting two goals in 1:11, including their first power-play goal of the season.

The wake-up call was all Penn State needed, holding AIC to just five shots throughout the rest of the contest, including one in the third period.

The measly 12-shot total that the Yellow Jackets posted was a program record for the fewest shots allowed by Penn State.

“We never wavered when we got down a goal, we just kind of stick to the same plan,” defenseman Tanner Palocsik said. “Just keep a sturdy mentality and just take it one shift at a time.”

While the defense continued to hold steady, the offense continued to pile on the pressure, garnering an abundance of chances and drawing multiple penalties.

The third time's the charm for the Nittany Lions, as freshman Aiden Fink found a lucky bounce near the far circle and hit twine to even the scoring.

The former AJHL MVP was flying all over the ice alongside Kirwan and Danny Dzhaniyev and was rewarded with his first collegiate goal.

“Definitely really cool to get my first as a Nittany Lion,” Fink said.

The Nittany Lions continued to hound AIC and goaltender Nils Wallstrom throughout the third, but the Swedish netminder was a black hole in net.

That was until chaos ensued around his crease, which allowed a loose puck to find Christian Berger at the top of the circle who fed Palocisk for the game-winning goal and his first as a Nittany Lion.

The Dartmouth transfer is no stranger to scoring, leading the Big Green in points last season, but his first in Hockey Valley felt special.

“It’s definitely special, something you don’t see around college hockey playing in a lot of different rinks over the years,” Palocsik said. “This is definitely something I won’t forget.”

For the Nittany Lions, the offense coming into the season was the biggest question mark, who lost 54.3% of their goals in the offseason.

While guys like Kevin Wall and Connor MacEachern leave the program, guys like Fink and Palocsik come in and make an immediate impact, something Gadowsky and Penn State would love to get used to.

“To see two new players come in and play such a key role in our home opener is really good,” Gadowsky said. “It’s great for our team, I think it gives us confidence.”

Joshua Bartosik is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jsb6137@psu.edu.