Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey

Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey[3] is a college ice hockey program that has represented Penn State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and College Hockey America (CHA) since the 2012–13 season.[4] The program was preceded by a club team that competed at the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 1 level, primarily as a member of Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League (ECWHL).[5][6][7] Penn State plays its home games at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania.

Penn State Nittany Lions women's ice hockey
Current season
UniversityPennsylvania State University
ConferenceCHA
Head coachJeff Kampersal
3rd season
ArenaPegula Ice Arena
Capacity: 5,782[1]
LocationUniversity Park, Pennsylvania
ColorsBlue and White[2]
         

History

ACHA years

Penn State's first women's hockey team – a club team called the "Lady Icers" – began play in the 1996–97 season, after students Ellen Bradley and Kathy Beckford recruited players from around campus and Vinnie Scalamogna, the assistant manager of the Penn State Ice Pavilion (then the university's sole ice facility), as coach.[8] The Lady Icers' first game, a 5–4 win over the Susquehanna Rockettes (an adult club team), took place on February 1, 1997.[9] The team was intermittently successful over its 16 years of existence, winning six conference regular season or playoff titles and qualifying for the ACHA National Tournament six times, peaking with a third-place finish at the end of the 2001-02 season.[10]

Penn State concluded its time in the ACHA in February 2012, with eventual NCAA leader Josh Brandwene as head coach. That season, the Lady Icers played a mixed schedule, featuring ACHA and ECWHL opponents as well as eleven games against NCAA Division I and Division III teams. PSU finished the year by claiming the ECWHL regular season title, but then losing to Rhode Island in the league's playoff championship game.[11]

Move to NCAA

After years of speculation[12][13] the program transitioned to the NCAA Division I level along with the PSU men's ice hockey team for the 2012–13 season. The move was made possible thanks to a Penn State-record $88 million (later increased to $102 million) donation, announced on September 17, 2010, from Terrence Pegula, a Penn State alumnus and billionaire hockey fan, and his wife Kim.[14] The donation primarily paid for the completion of a new 5,782-seat, $89 million ice arena to replace the undersized and aging 1,350-seat Penn State Ice Pavilion, which was deemed inadequate for long-term NCAA play.[12][15][16] Pegula Ice Arena opened in September 2013, after the Nittany Lions played their first NCAA season in the Ice Pavilion.

In May 2011 the university hired Brandwene as the first varsity women's hockey head coach.[17] On June 21, 2011, former Lady Icers head coach Mo Stroemel and Gina Kearns joined Brandwene's staff as assistants. Kearns had been an assistant with the Neumann University Knights, coaching there from 2009 until 2011.[18] In September 2011, Penn State was accepted into College Hockey America for the 2012–13 season, becoming the fifth member of the conference after Wayne State abruptly ended their women's hockey program, dropping league membership to only four teams for the 2011–12 season.[19]

NCAA
Hannah Hoenshell, Penn State's leading scorer in 2013–14

The Nittany Lions launched their NCAA era in stunning fashion, with a 5–3 victory over Vermont at Gutterson Fieldhouse on October 6, 2012, helped by a pair of goals each from Micayla Catanzariti and Shannon Yoxheimer.[20] Behind a roster led by forward and captain Taylor Gross, forward Jenna Welch and goaltender Nicole Paniccia (each a transfer from the University of Connecticut), and featuring eight Lady Icers holdovers (including Gross) along with 17 freshmen, PSU climbed to 5–8–1 overall on November 17, 2012 with its first-ever CHA win, 3–2 over fellow former ACHA program Lindenwood.[21] The Nittany Lions skidded the rest of the way through, managing only two wins (both against NCAA Division III Chatham University) over the final 21 games of the season, including a sweep by RIT in the first round of the CHA playoffs.[22]

The 2013–14 season again began encouragingly, with another win at Vermont and a split in the team's first Pegula Ice Arena games, on October 18 and 19, 2013 against Union.[23] However, despite eight ties or overtime losses and thanks largely to scoring just 1.36 times per game,[24] the Nittany Lions regressed to four wins overall and were once again swept by RIT in the first round of the CHA playoffs.[23]

PSU found its greatest success in the NCAA era during the 2014-15 season, when the team posted its first winning record (17-16-4), highest CHA standings position (tied for third) and first CHA playoff series win (against Lindenwood) before falling to Syracuse in the CHA semifinals,[25] thanks largely to the Minnetonka, MN-native duo of Laura Bowman and Amy Petersen, who combined for 27 goals. One obvious season highlight was a December 2014 sweep of then-No. 6 Mercyhurst, the Nittany Lions' first and second wins against a ranked team and against the perennially-powerful Lakers.[26][27] However, the team slid slightly backwards in 2015-16, matching the previous season's CHA standings placement and playoff results (a first-round sweep of RIT followed by a triple-overtime loss to Syracuse in the semifinals) but finishing only 12-19-6 overall.[28]

2014 offseason controversy

A few weeks after the conclusion of the 2013–14 season, a group of thirteen players spoke with Penn State Associate Athletic Director Charmelle Green to "express their frustration with Brandwene and concerns about the future of the program."[29] Seven of this group were subsequently cut from the team, including Jessica Desorcie, Darby Kern, Cara Mendelson, Brooke Meyer, Katie Murphy, Birdie Shaw and Madison Smiddy.[29] Murphy was the most outspoken of the cuts, telling Penn State student newspaper The Daily Collegian that "[Brandwene] talked to us like we were children. Three or four weeks he would go without even looking at me or without even talking to me. He’s a bully. That’s the best word I can think of for him," and that "The girls don’t respect the coach because he hasn’t earned our respect at all. He’s been my coach for three years and I tried my hardest to respect him and I still don’t have the respect for him that I should have for a head coach because he’s not a good coach."[29]

Over the days following Murphy's comments, others formerly involved with the program, including strength and conditioning coach Rob McLean[30] as well as outgoing transfer players Katie Zinn and Taylor McGee[31] also spoke critically of Brandwene.

2016 offseason controversy

The program again found itself the subject of negative headlines in March 2016, as Murphy, Mendelson, Shaw and others told or retold their stories to The Daily Collegian.[32] One of the chief allegations made concerned the handling of the 2014 complaint, with Murphy and Shaw claiming that Green promised the group filing the complaint confidentiality before subsequently burying the issue and turning their names over to Brandwene, who cut them - actions that would appear to be in violation of Penn State athletics guidelines. Several stories of emotional abuse were included as well. One anonymous former player said that Brandwene told her to lose weight in order to play more, while Shaw recounted an incident in which Brandwene physically knocked her stick from her hands while saying "don't worry, you won't be needing that today."[32] Shaw also said that Brandwene ruined the sport for her, to the point where she wouldn't allow her kids to play.

As with the 2014 situation, others came forward in the following days, including 2011-12 ACHA team players Katie Vaughan, Ashton Schaffer and Abbey Dufoe.[33] Vaughan said that "it became clear to me that this man has a destructive personality and he meant the team no well-being"[33] while recalling a conversation involving Brandwene pressing her about personal issues. Both she and Schaffer detailed other instances of emotional manipulation that almost caused them to end decade-plus playing careers, while Dufoe flatly said that "no one should be treated like that."[33] One father of an anonymous current player said that his daughter would transfer if Brandwene is retained as coach, and that "he has heard other parents say the same thing."[33]

2017 offseason coaching change

On April 19, 2017, Josh Brandwene retired from coaching, and on June 1, 2017, Penn State announced the hiring of longtime Princeton women's hockey head coach Jeff Kampersal to lead the Penn State women's hockey team beginning with the 2017–18 season.

Season by season results

Season-by-season results as of the conclusion of 2015–16 season.[34]

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Josh Brandwene (College Hockey America) (2012–2020)
2012–13 Josh Brandwene 7–26–21–17–26thCHA First Round
2013–14 Josh Brandwene 4–29–31–18–16thCHA First Round
2014–15 Josh Brandwene 17–16–49-9-23rdCHA Semifinals
2015–16 Josh Brandwene 12–19–66–8–63rdCHA Semifinals
2016-17 Josh Brandwene 9-21-58-10-24thCHA First Round
2017-18 Jeff Kampersal 9-15-115-7-74thCHA Semifinals
2018-19 Jeff Kampersal 13-14-96-9-55thCHA Semifinals
2019-20 Jeff Kampersal 10-11-75-4-44thtbd
Josh Brandwene: 49–111–2017–52–11
Jeff Kampersal: 32-40-2716-20-16
Total:81–151–47

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Season by season scoring leaders
Year Goals Assists Points Penalty Minutes
2012–13[35]Shannon Yoxheimer (14)Shannon Yoxheimer (17)Shannon Yoxheimer (31)Jordin Pardoski (40)
2013–14[24]Laura Bowman (10)Hannah Hoenshell (12)Hannah Hoenshell (17)Jordin Pardoski (28)
Jenna Welch (28)

Season by season goaltending leaders

(Minimum 60 minutes played)

Year Wins Goals Against Average Save Percentage Shutouts
2012–13[35]Nicole Paniccia (6)Celine Whitlinger (2.96)Celine Whitlinger (0.938)None
2013–14[24]Celine Whitlinger (3)Nicole Paniccia (3.44)Celine Whitlinger (0.913)None

Season award winners
  • Penn State, 2014–15 CHA Team Sportsmanship Award[36]
Award Player (Season)
CHA All-Second Team Laura Bowman (2014–15)[37]
CHA All-Rookie Team[38] Shannon Yoxheimer (2012–13), Laura Bowman (2013–14), Hannah Ehresmann and Bella Sutton (2014–15)
CHA Individual Sportsmanship Award[39] Taylor Gross (2013–14)
CHA Student-Athletes of the Year[40] Laura Bowman (2013–14), Lindsay Reihl (2013–14)
CHA All-Academic Team[40][41] Jeanette Bateman (2012–13, 2013–14), Kate Christoffersen (2012–13), Hannah Hoenshell (2012–13, 2013–14), Jill Holdcroft (2012–13, 2013–14), Paige Jahnke (2012–13, 2013–14), Darby Kern (2012–13, 2013–14), Emily Laurenzi (2012–13), Brooke Meyer (2012–13), Kendra Rasmussen (2012–13, 2013–14), Lindsay Reihl (2012–13, 2013–14), Stephanie Walkom (2012–13), Tess Weaver (2012–13), Jenna Welch (2012–13, 2013–14), Sarah Wilkie (2012–13, 2013–14), Katie Zinn (2012–13), Laura Bowman (2013–14), Taylor Gross (2013–14), Cara Mendelson (2013–14), Sarah Nielsen (2013–14), Amy Petersen (2013–14), Kelly Seward (2013–14), Madison Smiddy (2013–14), Celine Whitlinger (2013–14), Shannon Yoxheimer (2013–14)
Academic All-Big Ten Selections[42][43] Kate Christoffersen (2012–13), Jessica Desorcie (2012–13), Taylor Gross (2012–13, 2013–14), Cara Mendelson (2012–13), Lindsay Reihl (2012–13, 2013–14), Tess Weaver (2012–13, 2013–14), Jeanette Bateman (2013–14), Hannah Hoenshell (2013–14), Jill Holdcroft (2013–14), Paige Jahnke (2013–14), Emily Laurenzi (2013–14), Kendra Rasmussen (2013–14), Stephanie Walkom (2013–14), Jenna Welch (2013–14), Celine Whitlinger (2013–14), Sarah Wilkie (2013–14)

Players

Current roster

As of August 9, 2014.[44]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height DoB Hometown Previous team
1 Hannah Ehresmann Freshman G 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1996-03-19 Minnetonka, Minnesota Minnetonka HS
2 Jeanette Bateman Junior D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1994-05-01 Greeley, Colorado Colorado Select
3 Irene Kiroplis Freshman F/D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1996-06-06 Georgetown, Ontario Brampton Canadettes
4 Jordin Pardoski (A) Junior D 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1994-01-04 Rochester Hills, Michigan Detroit Honeybaked
5 Stephanie Walkom Junior D 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1994-06-21 Moon Township, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Penguins Elite
6 Hannah Bramm Junior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1994-07-26 Tampa, Florida Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
7 Caitlin Reilly Freshman F 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1995-09-05 Chanhassen, Minnesota Benilde-St. Margaret's
8 Christi Vetter Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 1995-09-07 Lakeville, Minnesota Lakeville North HS
9 Amy Petersen Sophomore F 5' 4" (1.63 m) 1994-10-02 Minnetonka, Minnesota Minnetonka HS
10 Micayla Catanzariti Junior F 5' 4" (1.63 m) 1994-03-22 Rancho Santa Margarita, California Gilmour Academy
11 Bella Sutton Freshman D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1996-01-20 Shoreview, Minnesota Mounds View HS
12 Sarah Nielsen Sophomore F 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1994-12-02 Edina, Minnesota Edina HS
13 Kendra Rasmussen Junior F/D 5' 5" (1.65 m) 1994-02-13 Sartell, Minnesota Sartell/Sauk Rapids HS
15 Aly Hardy Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) St. Albans, Vermont Boston Shamrocks
16 Hannah Hoenshell Junior F 5' 3" (1.6 m) 1993-12-30 Plano, Texas Alliance Bulldogs
17 Paige Jahnke Junior D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1994-07-03 Oakdale, Minnesota Roseville HS
18 Laura Bowman Sophomore F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1994-11-08 Minnetonka, Minnesota Minnetonka HS
19 Jill Holdcroft Junior F 5' 1" (1.55 m) 1994-01-29 Pennsylvania Furnace, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Penguins Elite
20 Emily Laurenzi Junior F 5' 2" (1.57 m) 1993-10-28 Townsend, Delaware National Sports Academy
21 Sarah Wilkie Junior D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1993-02-26 Ashby, Massachusetts Williston Northampton School
22 Remi Martin Freshman D 5' 6" (1.68 m) 1996-07-15 Littleton, Colorado Team Pittsburgh
27 Kelly Seward Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 1995-06-07 Williamsville, New York Nichols School
30 Celine Whitlinger Junior G 5' 8" (1.73 m) 1994-05-20 Garden Grove, California Gilmour Academy
31 Amber Greene Freshman G 5' 3" (1.6 m) Feeding Hills, Massachusetts Kingswood-Oxford School
40 Shannon Yoxheimer Junior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 1993-12-23 Jackson, Michigan North American Hockey Academy
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See also

References
  1. "The Home of Penn State Hockey". Penn State University. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  2. Penn State Artwork (PDF). November 6, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  3. Gentile, Eddie (November 20, 2008). "Lady Icers bond through adversity". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  4. Staff (September 17, 2010). "Penn State to Add Men's and Women's Varsity Ice Hockey". Penn State University. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  5. Riley, Duncan (January 24, 2009). "Miss America Finalist Tara Wheeler also an Ice Hockey Goalie". The Inquisitr. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  6. "Penn State University Records". ACHA. 2010. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  7. "ECWHL Teams". ECWHL. 2006–2007. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  8. Lello, Michael (November 12, 1996). "Women's hockey team takes the ice". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  9. Lello, Michael (February 3, 1997). "Lady Icers pick up win in inaugural game". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  10. "Fact Sheet". Penn State University. September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  11. Rodas, Mark (February 22, 2012). "Lady Icers staying motivated". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  12. Giger, Cory (August 6, 2010). "Penn State 'close' to adding arena, Division I hockey". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  13. Starman, Dave (September 13, 2010). "Which Way Will Dominos Fall After Penn State's Introduction?". U.S. College Hockey Online. Archived from the original on January 5, 2013. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  14. Staff (September 17, 2010). "Pegulas Commit Historic Gift To Penn State For New Arena And Hockey Program". Penn State University. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  15. Ciskie, Bruce (September 13, 2010). "Penn State Reportedly Set to Add Hockey". FanHouse. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  16. Wodon, Adam (September 16, 2010). "Penn State Announcement Expected Friday". College Hockey News. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  17. AP Staff (May 31, 2011). "Penn St turns to veteran coach, administrator, alum Josh Brandwene to lead D-I women's hockey". Daily Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2011.
  18. "Penn State Women's Hockey Adds Stroemel and Kearns to Coaching Staff". Penn State University. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 26, 2011.
  19. Staff (May 27, 2011). "Wayne State drops women's program; CHA left with four team s". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  20. "Nittany Lions Take Inaugural Opener at Vermont, 5–3". Penn State University. October 6, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  21. "Women's Hockey Earns First CHA Win, 3–2, over Lindenwood". Penn State University. November 17, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  22. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2012–2013 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  23. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2013–2014 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  24. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2013–2014 Team Statistics". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  25. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2014–2015 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  26. "Penn State Upsets No. 6 Mercyhurst, 2-1". Penn State Athletics. December 12, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  27. "Nittany Lions Sweep No. 6 Mercyhurst". Penn State Athletics. December 13, 2014. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  28. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2015–2016 Schedule and Results". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  29. Nelson, Kristen (April 21, 2014). "Seven women's hockey players cut from team". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  30. Nelson, Kristen (April 24, 2014). "Former women's hockey strength and conditioning coach voices opinion on Brandwene, player cuts". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  31. Nelson, Kristen (April 23, 2014). "Transfers react to recent women's hockey cuts". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  32. Mallon, Morganne (March 21, 2016). "Former Penn State women's hockey players allege emotional abuse by current head coach Josh Brandwene". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  33. Mallon, Morganne (March 25, 2016). "More former Penn State women's hockey players voice allegations". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  34. "Year-by-Year Results". Penn State Women's Ice Hockey Club. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
  35. "Penn State Nittany Lions (Women) 2012–2013 Team Statistics". College Hockey Stats. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  36. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-06. Retrieved 2015-03-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  37. "CHA Regular Season Awards". College Hockey America. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  38. "CHA Award Winners". College Hockey America. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  39. "Bowman, Gross Earn CHA Season Honors". Penn State University. March 6, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  40. "CHA Announces 2013–14 All-Academic Team". College Hockey America. June 27, 2014. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  41. "Fifteen Lions Earn CHA All-Academic Distinction". Penn State University. July 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  42. "School-Record 296 Penn State Student-Athletes Earn Academic All-Big Ten Honors in 2012–13". Penn State University. May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  43. "Penn State Earns School-Record 136 Spring/At-Large Academic All-Big Ten Honorees". Penn State University. July 8, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  44. "2014–15 Women's Ice Hockey Roster". Penn State University. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
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