No. 18 Penn State To Resume Big Ten Play Against No. 7 Minnesota

After a sweep of Lindenwood over Thanksgiving break, No. 18 Penn State will look to heighten competition when No. 7 Minnesota comes to town on Dec. 1 and 2.

Freshman Aiden Fink has been one of the strongest players on the team, garnering his second Big Ten award in two weeks with the Big Ten Third Star of the Week.

Fink is leading the team with nine goals, 12 assists and 21 points, and his line combined for 13 points against Lindenwood.

Additionally, Fink is eighth nationally in points per game.

Joining Fink on the self-proclaimed Kid Line are Matt DiMarsico and Reese Laubach, who have 15 and 8 points on the season, respectively.

“What they’ve done recently is extremely impressive… what they have is synergy,” head coach Guy Gadowsky said. “They’re a really exciting line to watch, and they’ve been very productive and obviously played a huge role in the recent months we’ve had.”

“They [Fink and DiMarsico] score from anywhere,” Laubach said.

Penn State can expect its young guns to continue to contribute, especially Casey Aman, who has played every position on the ice except goalie.

“He’s a very, very smart guy, and for him to pick up the system from different positions, I mean, it’s a credit to his intelligence,” Gadowsky said.

Other players have been putting in work, including senior Tyler Paquette, who’s had three goals and an assist after coming back from injury a quarter into the season.

The Nittany Lions are also looking for Ryan Kirwan to heat up, scoring in both Lindenwood games after a nine-goal drought.

Liam Souliere and Noah Grannan split goaltender duties against Lindenwood, and the system has been working well for the Nittany Lions, who roster a senior goalie and a sophomore netminder they’re priming to be the starter in the future.

Gadowsky was not asked about his goaltending decisions going into the weekend.

Scouting the Golden Gophers, Bryce Brodzinski earned the Big Ten First Star of the Week, totaling two goals and three assists in Minnesota’s contest with Michigan State over the weekend.

Gadowsky noted that he wants his squad to build off of the energy they cultivated in Ann Arbor and bring it back to a rowdy home crowd in Pegula Ice Arena.

“We’ve got four lines that can go every night… I think everyone wants it and practices super hard, so we’re pretty prepared,” Laubach said.

Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. on Dec. 1, which is also the Teddy Bear Toss game.

The bears tossed onto the ice during the first-period intermission are donated to THON.

“I actually did a teddy bear toss last year at my junior team, and we donated the teddy bears to the hospital. I thought that was one of the cooler experiences I’ve had playing hockey; being able to see the game be more than just hockey and actually making an impact in the community,” DiMarsico said.

Adrianna Gallucci is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.