Penn State hockey struggled defensively last season and lost veterans Carter Schade, Jarod Crespo, and Cade Christenson from the roster. Scoring is never a problem for Guy Gadowsky’s teams, but the defense is always a wild card. Any improvement on the blue line would help Penn State contend against the top teams in the Big Ten and give the goaltenders the support they desperately need.
First Pairing
Jackson Smith-Casey Aman
You can make the case that Jackson Smith is the best defenseman in the conference. He returns
for a second season at Penn State looking to build off an 11-goal, 15-assist freshman season. He is the clear top left-handed defenseman on the roster and should run the top power play unit. I have Casey Aman joining him on the top pairing as the most experienced right-hand shot Penn State has. Aman played forward out of necessity for a few games last year, but he should return to his normal spot on the blue line.
Second Pairing
Mac Gadowsky-Nolan Collins
It took until the Big Ten Tournament for Mac Gadowsky to score a goal, but he was strong offensively last season and will man the second pairing again this year. With a year of experience in Big Ten hockey, his offensive production should increase this year. Nolan Collins is a physical presence on the right side, though Penn State would like to see him add some offense this season.
Third Pairing
Ethan Weber-Caeden Herrington
Two of the new defensemen on the roster should team up to form the third pairing. Herrington played last season at Vermont and brings solid NCAA experience to this pair. Ethan Weber had an excellent season in juniors last year and appears ready to make the jump to the NCAA. If Weber can provide immediate offensive upside, the Nittany Lions will have three defensive pairs that can drive play in the offensive zone. We will see if that comes to fruition, but I am cautiously optimistic for now.
Reserves
Nick Fascia, Charlie Michaud
Nick Fascia played 25 games last year but struggled to make an impact in the games he played. If there is an injury, he should be able to step in, and as a left hand shot, he may be a more enticing option on the third pairing, but it remains to be seen. Charlie Michaud played six games with Miami last year as a depth piece, and I would expect to see the same usage for him in 2026-27.
