It’s been a little over six months since freshman forward Charlie Cerrato’s behind-the-back assist of linemate Matt DiMarsico’s program-altering goal made history in front of a packed PPL Center and sent Penn State to its first-ever Frozen Four.
The trio of Cerrato, DiMarsico, and JJ Wiebusch took the NCAA by storm last season, as evidenced by their combined 11-point performance through the first two games of the postseason tournament.
The Nittany Lions’ now first line has picked up right where it left off last season, and has been a driving force behind its offensive production early on.
“The big thing for them is they absolutely have a blast playing together,” coach Guy Gadowsky said. “Whether it’s in front of a packed house at Pegula, or if it’s a 3-on-3 game after practice with no one in the stands, they just have a blast playing together and scoring together.”
Cerrato is the nation’s current leader in points, with eight assists and three goals through just four games this season, averaging a staggering 2.75 points per game, and was named the season’s first Big Ten First Star of the Week.
The sophomore had a breakout year last season, finishing second on the team in points with 42 — which was the second-highest point total for a freshman in program history — and led all Big Ten rookies in every offensive category.
After being passed up twice previously in the NHL draft, the Fallston, Maryland, native was drafted No. 49 overall to the Carolina Hurricanes this past summer.
The Nittany Lions also claim the nation’s second-highest scorer, with Wiebusch’s six goals and four assists putting him right behind his linemate.
The sophomore forward has already made his mark on the history books this season, recording a program record four-goal game in the blue and white’s 6-4 loss to Clarkson on Oct. 9.
Wiebusch’s record-setting performance helped mark a second consecutive week with a Nittany Lion earning the Big Ten First Star, following Cerrato.
“Some guys just have a knack for finding open areas, and I think JJ is one of the best I’ve ever played with, or I’ve ever seen at that,” Cerrato said. “Just him being in the right areas, reading off people and getting that puck in the back of the net…he gets it under the bar every single time.”
The trio is rounded out by DiMarsico on the left side.
The junior recorded a career-best 32 points last season, including another career-high 17 goals, which tied him for seventh in the conference and second on the team in goals.
The Wexford, Pennsylvania, native also came up big in some high-pressure moments last season.
DiMarsico scored twice — potting the eventual game winner — in Penn State’s NCAA Quarterfinals win over Maine, but most notably, was the hero of the Allentown Regional Final, sending his third goal of the weekend over the shoulder of the UConn goaltender, and punching the program’s first-ever ticket to the Frozen Four.
“(DiMarsico’s) a team guy, through and through,” Gadowsky said. “He has just an elite stick, an elite IQ, he’s just such a great player.”
Each of the three forwards has the scoring abilities, playmaking and vision to stand out on any line they’re placed on, but when put together, have become a serious offensive threat.
“In the beginning of last year, we played well, but then we took that next step in the second half,” Cerrato said. “Just coming in this year with that confidence is huge, and we’re going to continue to ride that moving forward.”
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