Penn State men's hockey sets captains for 2022-23 season
Penn State hockey has its captains set ahead of the 2022-23 season. This year, that leadership is going to come from a host of heavily experienced contributors.
At the top, Paul DeNaples returns as a fifth-year senior and captain for the third-straight season. The Penn State defender has 133 games of experience through his career as a Nittany Lion. This year, he is taking advantage of the COVID bonus season of eligibility.
“Having the opportunity to come back to such a special university and be able to represent this prestigious program as captain for another year is a true honor,” DeNaples said via press release. “This team has some unfinished business and eager players ready to compete and bring some more hardware to Hockey Valley.”
DeNaples will be joined in the effort with a cast of rotating captains, also all seniors. They include forwards Connor McMenamin, Tyler Gratton, Connor MacEachern, and Kevin Wall.
Penn State senior leaders
As explained by head coach Guy Gadowsky, Penn State’s senior-heavy roster is being relied upon for good reason this year.
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“In addition to our captain Paul DeNaples, the team has voted numerous members of the senior class as leaders of this program,” Gadowsky said. “With so many of our seniors being identified as key leaders this season, we will be rotating alternate captains at home and on the road.
“This class will be relied upon to meet and exceed the level of Penn State Hockey standards that was evident during their freshmen year when the program won its first Big Ten Regular Season Title.”
According to the press release, Penn State is set to rotate its captaincy status between home and away matchups. On home ice, McMenamin and Gratton will have the honor, wearing the ‘A’ at Pegula Ice Arena. On the road, MacEachern and Wall will have the same honors.
DeNaples will continue to hold the overall captain role for a third straight season. The distinction will be a second time for McMenamin, and the first for Gratton, MacEachern, and Wall.
