SERIES STORYLINES
- This weekend marks the 27th and 28th meetings all-time between Penn State and Michigan State with the Nittany Lions holding the 13-9-4 advantage. The teams split the season series in 2018-19, each going 1-1 on home ice during the season.
- Penn State is 7-2-3 all-time against the Spartans at Pegula Ice Arena with last year's loss being the first at home against MSU since the 2013-14 season, PSU was 7-0-2 in its previous nine home games against Michigan State prior to the 6-4 loss.
- Michigan State returns 23 letter winners after losing just three seniors from last season's roster, however, leading scorer Taro Hirose decided to forgo his final season in East Lansing and sign an NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Hirose finished the 2018-19 season tied for the national points lead with 50 on 15 goals and a national-best 35 assists.
- Penn State jumped six spots in the recent polls to No. 6 cracking the top ten for the second time this season. This also marks the highest the Nittany Lions have been ranked since a previous No. 6 mark on November 26, 2018.
STAT BREAKDOWN
PENN STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
27 SAM STERNSCHEIN
FORWARD
- Sternschein scored a goal in each of this past weekend's victories vs. Wisconsin, including the game-winner in the second game. He also had an assist in the opening win over the Badgers.
- Sternschein has three goals and two assists for five points on the season.
- The Syoset, N.Y. native registered career-highs with nine goals and nine assists last season.
14 NATE SUCESE (SR.)
FORWARD
- Sucese tallied two goals vs. Wisconsin, tying the Nittany Lions' all-time scoring record with his 54th career goal.
- Sucese is No. 3 on the Penn State all-time points list with 114, while his 54 goals and 61 assists rank him tied for first and third, respectively.
- Played two seasons with the USHL's Dubuque Fighting Saints, registering 38 goals and 48 assists for 86 points.
31 PEYTON JONES (SR.)
GOALIE
- Jones was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week after allowing just three goals on 66 shots against the nation's second-ranked offense. The weekend included a season-high 38 saves in the opening 6-1 victory.
- Started 32 games in 2018-19 while compiling an 18-12-2 record with a .901 save percentage and a 3.32 goals against average.
- He was a member of the USHL's Lincoln Starts from 2014-16.
HEAD COACH GUY GADOWSKY
- Gadowsky is in his eighth season at Penn State and 20th overall, boasting a 131-111-19 record with the Nittany Lions.
- He has led Penn State to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2017 Big Ten Tournament title. The 2016-17 team also achieved the program's first No. 1 national ranking in January and finished the season as the highest scoring team in the country, averaging 4.10 goals per game.
- Prior to his tenure in Happy Valley, Gadowsky was head coach at Princeton for seven seasons. He led the Tigers to two NCAA Tournament berths and coached 20 players who would go on to sign professional contracts.
- Gadowsky also previously served five seasons as head coach at Alaska, and three as head coach and director of operations for the WCHL's Fresno Falcons.
PEGULA ICE ARENA
- Capacity: 5,782
- Opened: September 9, 2013
- Home to the Nittany Lions' men's and women's hockey programs, as well as a 5,000-square foot weight room, hydrotherapy training room, steam room, team lounge and locker room area.
- Fans experience some of the best amenities in college hockey at Pegula, which boasts an interactive history of Penn State Hockey, concession stands, suites, loge boxes and club seats.
- The Centre County community is able to take advantage of the community rink, which is open nearly 360 days a year.
Credits:
Mark Selders, Craig Houtz