No. 3 Penn State women's hockey had an immaculate run in 2025-26. The Nittany Lions made it to their first Frozen Four in program history. Despite losing in overtime to No. 2 Wisconsin, they still have a lot to be proud of.
Penn State hockey forward Gavin McKenna headlines finalists for prestigious award
"We can compete with anybody," forward Tessa Janecke, who was on the gold-medaling Team USA in the Winter Olympics, said. "We can compete with the best. I think we get a lot of slander for our conference and whatnot. Doesn't matter what conference you're playing in, to go the whole season with only five losses is something that's not easy to do.
"But I think it's just a testament. We can compete with anybody. I don't care what the stat sheet says, I don't care who's on your team. If we're willing to out compete you, then that's what we're going to do."
Janecke scored the opening goal of the night on Friday in under two minutes then followed it up in the third period with a breakaway and game-tying goal. The crowd of 5,176 fans at Pegula Ice Arena was an incredible environment that Janecke and the rest of her team fed off of. It almost even led to the game-winner.
It was the Badgers at the end of the day who notched that goal, sending them to the National Collegiate Women's Ice Hockey Championship over Penn State. After a boarding penalty put the Nittany Lions in a short-handed situation, Wisconsin forward Kirsten handled business. Within eight seconds of the Badgers' power play, Simms put the puck in the net and her team in the national title game. They face No. 1 Ohio State in the final.
As for the Nittany Lions whose season came to an end, they can still confidently say they built the program to where they want it to be. Seniors Janecke, forward Katelyn Roberts, defenseman Kendall Butze, forward Maddy Christian, defenseman Leah Stecker, and goaltender Katie DeSa alongside fifth-years forward Mya Vaslet and forward Taylor Lum put Penn State on the national stage.
"Realizing the sport of women's hockey is growing every day, and I want that to continue when we're gone. We did our job here," Janecke said. "It wasn't just about the wins on the score sheet or the points, but we grew women's hockey in Hockey Valley and in Penn State, just in general. So if we could just inspire one girl to want to play hockey, or anybody for that matter, then we did our job here."