I thought I would adapt our long-running offseason series for football for hockey, which could be in for a rebuilding year with new players at all three levels. Still, this looks like a solid team entering the season, and the Nittany Lions have the talent to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2026-27.
1. Goaltending
I am still getting used to Penn State hockey having above-average to strong goaltending in the last couple of seasons. The goalie in hockey is arguably the most important position in any sport, and the Nittany
Lions struggled to find consistent play at the position until 2024-25. That said, Josh Fleming is one of the best returning goaltenders in the country, and if he can avoid the sophomore slump, he can keep Penn State in games against better teams in Big Ten play. Incoming freshman Ryder Fetterolf will back him up after an excellent season in juniors, where he was named OHL Goaltender of the Year.
Health will be of utmost importance. The goalies avoided the injury bug that plagued the rest of the team last year. That will need to continue for Penn State to contend for the conference or NCAA Tournament.
2. Center Depth
Charlie Cerrato is gone, but Reese Laubach, Luke Misa, and Keaton Peters are back at center. Most of the wingers on the roster are new, but there is enough familiarity at center that the lines should be fine once the new players get adjusted to NCAA hockey. Peters returning should give the Lions a boost in the faceoff circle, and Laubach was very good as the top line center while Cerrato was hurt last year.
3. Lower Expectations
Last year was the most attention the hockey program had ever received, and expectations were sky-high. Penn State was touted as a favorite to win the Big Ten and a national championship contender. As we saw, neither of those lofty aspirations came to fruition. The season was viewed as a disappointment of sorts after lots of hype, which became the de facto theme for Penn State athletics in 2025-26.
This offseason has been much quieter, and Penn State is not expected to compete for a Big Ten or national title this season. Many of the hockey team’s most successful seasons came with little hype going in (2016-17, 2022-23, 2024-25). Without the bright lights on them, the season should feel more relaxed for the hockey team this year.
