Penn State put together its best recruiting class in program history over the course of the last nine months, bringing in some of the best talent in junior hockey.
But while the spotlight is on Gavin McKenna, Aiden Fink and Jackson Smith, there are other rostered players getting little-to-no recognition that deserve to be discussed.
Here are some underrated players to look out for.
Keaton Peters
Keaton Peters was part of a dominant 2024 freshman class that helped lift the Nittany Lions to the Frozen Four. While he didn’t have elite production offensively — totaling just six points in 35 games — he was a key player for coach Guy Gadowsky, especially from the faceoff dot.
The center helped lead Penn State to the second-best faceoff win percentage in the Big Ten with his 54.9% win-rate, ranking third on the team amongst players with at least 150 opportunities behind center Charlie Cerrato and forward Dane Dowiak.
Penn State forward Keaton Peters (9) faces off during the NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championship semifinal game against Boston University at the Enterprise Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in St. Louis, Mo. The Terriers beat the Nittany Lions 3-1.
Samantha Oropeza
Not only is Peters strong at the dot, he’s also a chippy, more physical-styled player. While listed at just 5-foot-10, 195 pounds, Peters displays a fierce game along the boards, battling for pucks and attempting to sustain offensive-zone time. In addition, his physical play style helps him excel defensively, as he’s one of the best defensive forwards on the roster.
Dane Dowiak
Like Peters, Dane Dowiak excels at faceoffs. The junior led the Nittany Lions with a 58.8% win-rate, but that’s not all Dowiak excels at. The Pittsburgh native sports a hard-nosed play style, battling for loose pucks and doing the dirty work standing netfront.
While he’s not a top-line player, Dowiak was crucial to the blue and white’s success last season, especially on the offensive end. The junior ranked sixth on the team in goals with 12 and produced a career-best 20 points. He also saw valuable time on the power play.
Penn State forward Dane Dowiak (19) shoots the puck during the NCAA Frozen Four ice hockey championship semifinal game against Boston University at the Enterprise Center on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in St. Louis, Mo. The Terriers beat the Nittany Lions 3-1.
Samantha Oropeza
Most notably, though, Dowiak was one of the most productive Nittany Lions in the NCAA Tournament, earning one of three forward spots on the All-Regional team in Allentown. To trump that, he also won the Most Outstanding Player Award, given to the top performer in the Allentown Regional.
Without Dowiak turning on another gear in the postseason, the blue and white could look entirely different than they do now.
Andrew Kuzma
Andrew Kuzma was swept under the rug last season due to his season-ending heart surgery he underwent on Nov. 22. The 20-year-old hasn’t seen collegiate game action, but he was one of the top recruits in Penn State’s 2024 class.
Standing 6-foot, 194 pounds, Kuzma is one of the bigger forwards on Penn State’s roster — which is littered with undersized guys. Despite the frame, Kuzma is fast and a strong skater.
Penn State forward Andrew Kuzma (11) and Penn State forward JJ Wiebusch (20) hug following the NCAA Regional Finals against Uconn on Sunday, March 30, 2025 in the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Huskies 3-2.
Megan Miller
Here’s what EliteProspects 2023 NHL Draft Guide had to say about Kuzma: “Kuzma’s feet never stop moving. He sprints on the backcheck to prevent entries, charges full speed into opponents to send them flying, and makes the extra effort where most players glide. On the offensive end, that mentality gets him open around the net for off-the-pass shots.”
The New York native will fit soundly on the blue and white’s third or fourth line this season, bringing high offensive upside to its bottom six. Kuzma hasn’t played since early 2024 with the Madison Capitols of the USHL, but he shined in his last full season, amassing 52 points, 30 goals and 22 assists in 62 games.
Cade Christenson
For most Penn State fans, Cade Christenson is well known. To the average college hockey fan, he’s a question mark. But despite that, he’s one of the best defenseman in the Big Ten, and one of the best defenders in all of college hockey.
Christenson was former captain Simon Mack’s defensive partner last season, and both took on a large workload. In Penn State’s overtime victory over UConn which sent it to the Frozen Four, Christenson logged 32:42 of ice time. While a lot, it was a regularity for the rising sophomore in the Nittany Lions’ do-or-die games.
Penn State defender Cade Christenson (27) shoots the puck at the goal during the NCAA Regional Finals against Uconn on Sunday, March 30, 2025 in the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Huskies 3-2.
Megan Miller
The Edmonton native stands 6-foot-3, 190 pounds and uses his big frame to support a physical play style on defense. Even with his physicality, Christenson is an excellent skater and keeps up with some of the more explosive players in the Big Ten.
While he’s a strong defender, Christenson’s offensive game lacks explosiveness and consistency. Regardless, he’s one of Penn State’s best defenseman.
Christenson sustained an injury while training at home this offseason and is expected to miss the start of the 2025 season, which Gadowsky addressed in a midsummer press conference. His loss will be a tough one for the Nittany Lions’ blue line, but when he returns, it’ll be a massive boost for Penn State.
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