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Penn State hockey prepares for 2026 season with defensive lineup changes

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 5, 2026, 4:08 PM

Last updated Aug 5, 2026

Penn State hockey prepares for 2026 season with defensive lineup changes
Summary

Penn State hockey faces a challenging 2026 season, struggling defensively after losing veterans Carter Schade, Jarod Crespo, and Cade Christenson. Under head coach Guy Gadowsky, the team seeks to improve its defensive play to compete in the Big Ten. Jackson Smith returns as the top left-handed defenseman, paired with Casey Aman. The second pairing features Mac Gadowsky and Nolan Collins, while Ethan Weber and Caeden Herrington form the third pairing. Early assessments indicate cautious optimism about the new lineup's potential effectiveness.

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Status Watch
  • •Penn State lost key defensemen prior to the 2026 season.
  • •Jackson Smith aims to build on last year's strong performance.
  • •Three defensive pairings are established for the upcoming season.
  • •The new lineup aims to better support goaltenders.
Latest Updates
  • 4:08 PMYahoo Sports — Penn State Hockey Preview: Defensemen
What they're saying
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Penn State hockey struggled defensively last season and lost veterans Carter Schade, Jarod Crespo, and Cade Christenson from the roster. Scoring is never a problem for Guy Gadowsky’s teams, but the defense is always a wild card. Any improvement on the blue line would help Penn State contend against the top teams in the Big […]

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