The Big Ten released its preseason coaches poll and all-conference honors ahead of the first week of the NCAA men's hockey season. Penn State hockey erupted as an early favorite in the Big Ten, sitting right behind Michigan State at No. 2.
Penn State men's hockey is No. 2 to start the 2025-26 season in the Big Ten
The conference is stacked this 2025-26 season, so it won't be an easy ride to the Big Ten Tournament title or smooth sailing into the playoffs. The Nittany Lions finished the previous season with a conference record of 9-11-4, which was good for fifth in the Big Ten. In the conference tournament, they beat No. 4 Michigan as the underdog in the best-of-three series then ultimately fell to No. 3 Ohio State in the single elimination quarterfinals.
After 2024-25, no one in the country, never mind just in the Big Ten, is underestimating the blue and white. A historic, turnaround season followed up with an impressive recruiting in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) makes Penn State a team to beat for everyone regardless of conference.
The only team in the Big Ten that has an edge on it right now is Michigan State.
The Spartans ended No. 1 in the conference and was shockingly upset in the NCAA Tournament First Round as Cornell pulled off a win. Their conference record was 15-5-4 and they have a threatening team to beat once again in 2025-26. Michigan State and the Nittany Lions meet for the first time on Nov. 7 and 8 for a series hosted by the Spartans. They'll face each other a second time on Jan. 31 for an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium followed by the final matchup on Feb. 1 at Pegula Ice Arena.
Aiden Fink, Mac Gadowsky, and Gavin McKenna tabbed as top Penn State trio in the Big Ten
The conference also released its preseason All-Big Ten honors. Two Nittany Lions were selected to the first team while one made the second team.
Aiden Fink and Mac Gadowsky are the power duo leading Penn State.
The forward had 23 goals and 30 assists as a sophomore in 2024-25, setting single-season records in program history. He also tied his own single-season record of power play goals scored with eight. Fink was also a Big Ten Player of the Year finalist, Big Ten First-Team All-Conference selection, and was the first Penn State player to be a Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist.
Mac Gadowsky transferred over from Army West Point to join his father, Guy Gadowsky, who is entering his 14th year as head coach of the Nittany Lions. Mac Gadowsky was the first Hobey Baker Award Top-10 Finalist in program history with his former team after putting up a 42-point season as a defenseman, which was the most points scored by a defenseman across the country. He had 16 goals (another season-high for defensemen in the country), 26 assists, and four power play goals. As a sophomore in 2024-25, he was a First-Team All-AHA selection and the AHA Defenseman of the year.
Gavin McKenna completes the trio.
The incoming freshman from the Western Hockey League of the CHL made the All-Big Ten Second Team. He is the only non-Michigan forward on the team, joining Michael Hage and T.J. Hughes. The forward is expected to play a huge role for Penn State once he's adequately adjusted to the NCAA style, and that's clear by him being the only freshman on either of the two All-Big Ten teams.
Big Ten Coaches Preseason Poll results: