The hours continue to tick down before No. 3 Penn State makes its first Frozen Four appearance in program history. After their practice before the historic game, Tessa Janecke and Katie DeSa met with the media before their last weekend as a Nittany Lion.
In what was their final word before the action commences, the two seniors focused on the respect they believe the program should be given and the magnitude of reaching their first-ever Frozen Four.
“I think it just means having us as (No. 3 in the country) and just no question about it,” DeSa said. “I think when we first broke into that top-five, there were definitely some people being like ‘oh, their schedule’s so weak, they don’t deserve it.’ But, I think we’ve shown it with the competition we’ve played and the games we’ve won.”
This season has been nothing short of historic for the Nittany Lions. After earning its highest ranking at No. 3 and ending the season with the most wins in program history with 33, the blue and white have reached new grounds.
A program that has only earned a winning season once before coach Jeff Kampersal took the position, is now two wins away from winning a national championship for the first time in Penn State hockey.
With multiple seasons resulting in defeat, the level of respect from its peers had to be built from the ground up. For the players, reaching the Frozen Four serves as an example as to why the program should be looked at differently.
“We just don’t get respect, I think in the entire NCAA as a whole. But, hopefully just making this Frozen Four and putting up a good game tomorrow will hopefully change that narrative, and get people to want to come here, to the best facilities and hopefully the best team.” Janecke said.
Regardless of how Penn State ends its season, the Frozen Four has been a goal for the seven departing seniors since entering the program. With that now in their grasp, the class looks to continue building a reputation that draws in players even when they leave.
“I think that was kind of always our goal, to get over that hump of being a Top-10 team and getting up to a top-five team and now in the Frozen Four,” Janecke said. “So, I think what we’ve done as a senior class, and just a leadership group in general, is kind of amazing. What we’ve done with the program just in these four years, and I know it’s just going to continue now and once we leave, it’s going to get better and hopefully remain a powerhouse.”
The Nittany Lions have already faced a top-five team this season in Ohio State, resulting in two lopsided losses.
Learning from this early-season defeat, both players seemed confident that their leadership group would brave the upcoming challenge.
“I think it would just be a testament to our team, to our leadership,” Janecke said. “I think it’s going to test both leadership groups, not just ours but theirs as well, just to see what we both can bring. I’m excited for it and I know our team’s ready for it, and to get this win will be huge.”
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