2020-21 Penn State Nittany Lions

[zambonidriver]

This is what I have heard and it is only rumor. There is going to be a season, originally it was supposed to start in January. Though things have changed a little bit with football coming back and Basketball not postponing.I am hearing rumors of a November start conference play only. If there is a full season with a NCAA tournament there will be no extension of eligibility. If there is no NCAA tournament then the players will get another year. Players who opt out due to covid do not lose any eligibility it is like taking a redshirt.

[Lindsay]

Zamboni I hope you are right! To get started safely in November would be amazing. I truly hope the NCAA tourney can be played. WoHo has experienced so many set backs the past few years, dating back to the cancellation of the CWHL... it’s just been one thing after another. Nothing folks can do but keep going but wow it would be great to see a high level tourney happen.

[ZedLeppelin]

Here's a good video interview with senior defender Morgan Rolph:

https://twitter.com/PennStateWHKY/st...51901408751618

[Reddington]

College players last year did not get an extra year of eligibility because there were no championships. I'd have to see that in writing for sure before I bought into that rumor. As far as the rest, all seems plausible.


Lots of questions remain unanswered - the Big Ten does not have a hockey conference, what happens when you play a non-Big Ten School. The Big Ten has oodles of protocols and others don't. The travel would be far and more costs and etc etc.

Meanwhile, I hear lots of girls stayed home.. I looked at Harvard and they have six girls on their roster.


Even with football getting a late start, I do not see collegiate hockey happening. There is not enough money at stake.

Yes, I do think it is possible to have a sixth year in regards to Brenneman. If they don't play.... that is.

[Cornholio]

Fall sports athletes were given an extra year: https://www.thelantern.com/2020/08/n...dent-athletes/

I'd assume would be the same for winter sports assuming it does not happen or is a shortened season, etc.

This opens up a different problem - the logjam. What happens to incoming freshman recruits? The key thing that jumped out was that the seniors would not count against scholarship totals. Not sure if all schools could afford that but at least 'promises made' could be honoured.

[ZedLeppelin]

...it would be great to see a high level tourney happen.

I know all the uncertainty has to be extra hard for Mercyhurst fans in a season where Mercyhurst was set to host the national tournament. Penn State is hosting it next season and I know how disappointed I'll be if things aren't ironed out by then. I wonder if Mercyhurst would automatically get the next open slot for hosting the tournament if it doesn't go this season.

Even with football getting a late start, I do not see collegiate hockey happening. There is not enough money at stake.

That's been my thought for a while, too. Women's hockey in particular is not the money sport that football is, and I can't see schools working overtime to make a season for them.

Yes, I do think it is possible to have a sixth year in regards to Brenneman. If they don't play.... that is.

Penn State should retire her number if she comes back as a sixth-year senior!

Fall sports athletes were given an extra year: https://www.thelantern.com/2020/08/n...dent-athletes/
I'd assume would be the same for winter sports assuming it does not happen or is a shortened season, etc.

This opens up a different problem - the logjam. What happens to incoming freshman recruits? The key thing that jumped out was that the seniors would not count against scholarship totals. Not sure if all schools could afford that but at least 'promises made' could be honoured.

A serious roster logjam, for sure. With scholarships over for fifth-year seniors, I assume there would be no requirement for them to be officially enrolled academically...they just come back to play a season of hockey.

[EMPTYNETTER]

Perhaps the CHA will follow suit shortly?

https://bigten.org/news/2020/10/6/me...ey-season.aspx

[Reddington]

There is no Big Ten for Women's Hockey. You have Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ohio State for the women. What works for the men does not translate. It shall be interesting.

[ZedLeppelin]

Kind of a surprise, but senior forward Shea Nelson is no longer on the Penn State roster. If they do end up having a season, she's going to be a big loss for Penn State. Senior forward Sophie Slattery is gone now, too.

[Reddington]

Last year with Lindenwood, they played a couple of non-goalies, maybe PSU with their 5 goalies, will have to have a couple skate out.

[ZedLeppelin]

Last year with Lindenwood, they played a couple of non-goalies, maybe PSU with their 5 goalies, will have to have a couple skate out.

Well, they did pick up five freshmen forwards, so if at least a couple of them turn out to be hotshots, things offensively should be okay. I just thought Shea Nelson was really ready for a hell of a senior season. I'm still shaking my head over seeing five goalies on the roster...that's just trippy!

[ZedLeppelin]

Pegula Ice Arena is now the new walk-up Covid-19 testing site for (asymptomatic) Penn State students and staff. Penn State has reported 3,166 cases of Covid-19 since opening for 2020-21 classes.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/loc...246343195.html


And this article says "Under current state guidance, public tickets will not be sold for 2020-21 Penn State hockey games":

http://www.statecollege.com/news/loc...eason,1484170/

[ZedLeppelin]

Penn State will host the women's Frozen Four again in 2026 (after hopefully getting it's scheduled turn hosting next season):

https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/10...ip-events.aspx

[Reddington]

Had not seen this. Thanks for posting.

[ZedLeppelin]

Freshman forward Kiara Zanon has been invited to the U.S. Women's National Team Evaluation Camp:

https://gopsusports.com/news/2020/10...tion-camp.aspx