By Pat White GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.-- In the final part of a two part Penn State men's hockey (13-14) season recap, we delve into the Nittany Lions' defense and goaltending that made major strides during the squads first season.

The defensive corps had its fair share of growing pains throughout the season. On opening night against American International, four freshmen dressed on the blue line and freshman goaltender Matt Skoff (McKees Rocks, Pa.) was between the pipes in an overtime loss. That young unit used each game as a learning experience and rounded into form, ending the season on the winning side of an overtime affair at Wisconsin.

Head coach Guy Gadowsky said that Skoff looked nervous at the start of the season, but gradually built confidence and night have stolen some wins for his team.

"There is no surprise about what Skoff attained this season," Gadowsky said. "You wonder if the wins we got were a little skewed because he was so phenomenal. It takes great goaltending to have success and fortunately he's a freshman so we have him for another three years."

Skoff finished with a 9-8 record, while posting a 2.48 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He admitted that starting up the new hockey program brought some jitters and butterflies, but his work-first mentality settled him down.

"I just stuck with it throughout the season and just kept working," Skoff said. "Luckily we were able to get some wins that people didn't think we could get."

Gadowsky admitted that early in the season the defense didn't understand its objectives. Junior Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.) was the only defenseman on the Penn State roster with previous NCAA experience from his freshman season at Mercyhurst.

The blue line was also marred by a injuries throughout the season, but the depth of the defense proved to be key for the Nittany Lions. Freshmen Mark Yanis (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.), Luke Juha (Mississauga, Ont.), Joseph Lordo (St. Louis, Mo.) and Connor Varley (Lansdale, Pa.) all made immediate impacts on the team.

Each defenseman brought something different to the table.

Yanis' big frame brought physicality and a snarl to the back end complimented his booming shot from the point. Juha showed the ability to quarterback a power play with his vision and puck-moving ability. Lordo's skating and positioning made him a tough defender to navigate around. Varley's versatility and durability made him an offensive threat every time he touched the puck, along with being one of only four Nittany Lions to dress in all 27 games.

Finding chemistry between defensive partners can take some time, which may have led to the team's early struggles, but Skoff was proud of the way the team bought into the team's identity and continued to grow throughout the season.

"We got comfortable," Skoff said. "We just went out and worked hard each game and stuck to our systems and were able to come together in the end after beginning the year as an inexperienced team."

Losing two top defensemen could have been a major blow to the team, losing Juha and Yanis for extended periods of time due to injuries, but prior experience from playing junior hockey prepared the team for adversity.

"We handled it well, especially with injuries," Skoff said. "Playing in the USHL you get a lot of exposure. I think that helped them and they did wonders with it and it was cool to see."

During the final two months of the season, Gadowsky was often forced to dress only four or five defensemen. It was the depth added by former club players, seniors Rich O'Brien (Furlong, Pa.) and Brian Dolan (Havertown, Pa.) and sophomore Peter Sweetland (Newtown, Pa.) that softened the blow on the back end.

O'Brien and Dolan came to Penn State for a first-class education and playing club hockey was an added bonus. They never expected to end their Penn State careers playing at the Division I level. Gadowsky was especially proud of all the seniors for buying into their roles and providing leadership for the team.

"Their tryout was two years long and they had it harder than everybody else," Gadowsky said. "The guys that did graduate with our program really deserve a lot of credit. They've done a lot of things really well and to see them win in overtime at Wisconsin to end their careers was just fantastic."

Sweetland was a regular in the lineup after a rough start to the season, but his poise and ability to retrieve pucks in the corners led to numerous offensive opportunities.

It wasn't only the defensemen that deserve credit for Penn State's defense. Since the beginning of the season, Gadowsky wanted his team to build on the foundation as a good backchecking team and the hardest working team in college hockey. Whether the team won or lost, a standout characteristic was the forwards willingness to backcheck. It also attributed to Penn State's successful penalty-killing unit that operated at 85 percent this season.

There were many high points in the inaugural season of Division I hockey. The Nittany Lions defeated Vermont in front of 19,000 people in Philadelphia, they were 3-2 against future Big Ten opponents and defeated a ranked Wisconsin team on the road in a 3-2 overtime thriller. Despite those feats, watching a first year team grow together and exceed many people expectations was the most rewarding accomplishment for the team.

"If you look at where we started to where we are now, the first game we lost to AIC and our last game we beat Wisconsin in Madison, that tells you something," Gadowsky said.

--NITTANY LIONS--

By Pat White GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for Penn State men's hockey (13-14-0) in its first season as a Division I program. In the first installment of this two part series we take a look at the maturation of the offensive unit on the ice for the Nittany Lions.

There were many highlight goals that came this season on the offensive side of the ice for Penn State. Freshmen Casey Bailey (Anchorage, Alaska) and David Glen (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) provided the bulk of the goals for the Nittany Lions, a trend which began the first weekend of the season.

Bailey scored the first Division I goal for Penn State on Oct. 12 in the season opening loss to American International. Glen got his season off to a roaring offensive start the next day in Wilkes-Barre, netting two goals against AIC including the game-winner in overtime.

A majority of the offense was generated by Glen and Bailey's lines. Bailey primarily played with sophomore Max Gardiner (Deephaven, Minn.) and junior Taylor Holstrom (Yorba Linda, Calif.) and combined to score 26 goals for the Nittany Lions. In the final 11 games of the season playing together, the three forwards combined for 17 goals and 26 assists.

Glen's line with fellow freshmen Curtis Loik (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas, Nev.) formed to be a 200-foot hockey line. They played a complete brand of hockey that encompassed all facets of the game.

Glen was the scorer on the line, leading the team with 16 goals. Glen had a knack for scoring goals in a variety of ways and was a threat from all over the ice. Brooks was what head coach Guy Gadowsky described as a "hockey player's hockey player." Brooks did all the little things; winning board battles, backchecking, killing penalties and being a disruptive force. Loik provided some secondary scoring and space for Glen to get to scoring areas.

"Both of our lines were hardworking lines," Bailey said. "They controlled the play with a lot of puck possession. I think with Holstrom and Gardiner, we were a little more run and gun. A lot of [offense] came from getting pucks deep and going to the net."

Penn State's offense always seemed to come up big on the big stage. The Holstrom/Bailey/Gardiner line was assembled on Dec. 29 in a game against future Big Ten opponent Ohio State. The trio combined for five goals and four assists and kicked off Holstrom's coming out party.

Holstrom finished the season on a tear, scoring eight goals and dishing out six assists down the stretch. He scored three game-winning goals on the season, all against Big Ten opponents, and said those were big games and that the team played especially well. He was proud of his team's play and was particularly proud of his game-winning tally against Wisconsin.

"It felt great [scoring those goals],"Holstrom said. "When you're put in those situations you always want to be that guy and luckily enough I was."

The Penn State power play was remarkably inconsistent all season scoring just 12 goals on 106 opportunities. Despite the power play struggles, Penn State was 10-2 when scoring a power play goal. The power play got an added jolt when freshman defenseman Mark Yanis (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) returned from a two month ankle injury.

"When we put that power play unit together it excited the guys," Bailey said. "Gardiner does a good job of taking away the goalie's eyes and when Yanis was [on the point] taking shots it was always a plus for our team."

Toward the end of the season, Gadowsky opted to use four forwards on the power play along with Yanis. Gardiner had a newfound role in front of the net clearing space and deflecting shots. Glen worked the wings with Bailey, providing multiple shooting options and making the power play more dangerous.

"You need guys that can score and can take a beating in front of the net," Holstrom said. "I think that [the power play] will continue to evolve with a few more recruiting classes. It gives us a little bit of a boost and helps us gain some momentum."

The freshmen class accounted for 58.2 percent of Penn State's points. The immediate impact was unexpected, but needed in the Nittany Lions first season at the varsity level.

"We didn't know what to expect with a lot of freshmen," Glen said. "We started building the foundation in the beginning of the year by working hard, backchecking hard, and going to the net. Everything seemed to come together at the end in the win [at Wisconsin]."

--NITTANY LIONS--

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In their first season, the Penn State men's hockey program finished the season with five victories over their last seven games to end the year with a 13-14-0 overall record. A roster that featured 15 underclassmen - including 10 freshman - helped bring the program through a transition year with a lot of success.

Below are some notes on the 2012-13 men's hockey postseason press conference along with videos from freshman forward David Glen, junior forward Taylor Holstrom and freshman net minder Matthew Skoff.

VIDEO: Penn State Men's Hockey Postseason Media Day Player Videos

Laying the Foundation
When you talk to the players and coaches one message is clear; this group was focused on laying a foundation for the future of Penn State hockey.

It's hard to think that a coach would be able to convince a group of college aged student-athletes that there is a larger significance to what they are doing than just piling up statistics and individual awards, but Gadowsky has done just that.

The first Penn State hockey team to ever take the ice as a Division I team was selfless. They did it for one and other, did it for the fans and did it because Penn State needed them to.

The word foundation came out a lot when listening to Gadowsky speak this season and his players echoed that expression during the postseason press conference. They understand what their leader is communicating to them and they are focused on that process, not the results. That focus is what enabled them to close out the season with five wins in their final seven NCAA contests and overcome adversity throughout the year.

What Gadowsky Wants
A new program always has needs, but a new program with a passionate coach like Guy Gadowsky has a list of things it wants for its fledgling program. One of those wants that Gadowsky talked about on Thursday at the postseason press conference was his desire to recruit kids that are going to create healthy competition on and off the ice.

The first-year head coach has a roster full of players that competed at a very high level this season, even while going through the growing pains of being a new program. All ten of the top point scorers will return next season and the addition of three forwards will only bolster the Nittany Lions offensive attack. Freshmen Casey Bailey (27 pts) and David Glen (25 pts) led the team in points, while sophomore Max Gardiner topped the squad's assists charts with 19.

This year's squad watched as young players established themselves as major contributors and the upperclassmen continued to lay the foundation for the Blue and White on and off the ice to push the program to new heights during its initial season. The current five-person recruiting class looks to bring more talent to campus and is poised to continue the groundwork in Hockey Valley.

Senior Six Living the Dream
When Brian Dolan, Michael Longo, Dominic Morrone, Rich O'Brien, George Saad and Eric Steinour arrived on campus they were excited about playing hockey for the Penn State club program in the American Collegiate Hockey Conference, but none of them ever dreamed that three years after arriving on campus they would be suiting up on the Division I stage.

The Senior Six each staked three years for the ACAH squad and endured nearly a two-year tryout according to Gadowsky. When we talked to them throughout the year they used phrases like, 'not in my wildest dreams' or 'I never even thought about it', but lived out a dream in a major way this season.

They exit as the first senior class in PSU history, but mean much more to a young program than anyone could ever imagine.

Big Ten Blazing a Trail
When the 2013-14 college hockey season begins it will mark the first time in NCAA history that a BCS conference will sponsor men's hockey. That conference that will be making the leap is the Big Ten.

When Penn State announced the addition of hockey as a Division I sport in 2010, the powers at be in the Big Ten Conference offices began to explore the opportunity of adding men's hockey to the docket of championship sports sponsored by the conference. When the season begins next year the Big Ten will now host championships in 26 sports.

With Penn States addition of hockey, along with programs at Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin, the Big Ten will begin play for their first conference season in 2013-14 with a 20-game schedule that features each institution playing two home and two road contests vs. each of the other five schools.

The inaugural Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament will be held March 20-22, 2014, at Xcel Energy Center in Minneapolis, Minn. where the conference will crown their first ever champion.

Follow GoPSUsports.com's Greg Campbell on Twitter @SID_Greg

-- NITTANY LIONS --

Follow GoPSUsports.com's Greg Campbell on Twitter @SID_Greg

-- NITTANY LIONS --

By Pat White GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--Penn State men's hockey (13-14) wrapped up its season with a comeback, 3-2 overtime victory against No. 16 Wisconsin (14-11-7) at the Kohl Center on Monday night. Wisconsin marked the third Big Ten team the Nittany Lions defeated after wins against Ohio State and at Michigan State earlier in the season.

It was only appropriate that Penn State would conclude its season the same way it won its first game as a Division I program; with overtime heroics. Penn State has been a resilient team, and head coach Guy Gadowsky liked the heart his team showed to battle out of a 0-2 hole.

"I give [our players] a lot of credit for gritting it out against a very good team," Gadowsky told GoPSUsports.com following the game." [Wisconsin] is great when they get a lead and a tough team to get back on."

Junior forward Taylor Holstrom (Yorba Linda, Calif.) continued his hot streak, despite having his eight game point streak snapped on Sunday in the 5-0 loss to the Badgers. He rebounded with two goals, including the game-winning overtime tally on the backhand, on Monday night. Holstrom has amassed eight goals and six assists in his final 10 games of the season, after only tallying three points in his first 13 games.

Holstrom's game-winning marker was his third of the season, all of which have come against future Big Ten opponents.

After being outshot 51-22 on Sunday night, Penn State needed to get more pucks at the net and create more offense.

"We wanted to get more pucks on net," Gadowsky said. "We did a better job [Monday] and that's a tough team to generate offense on."

Penn State rebounded on Monday with 36 shots, and did a much better job of testing Wisconsin goaltender Landon Peterson as all three goals were products of shooting the puck and crashing the net.

Holstom's first goal was a shot from the right circle that beat Peterson to the short side. Freshman forward Casey Bailey (Anchorage, Alaska) tied the game at two on the power play by pushing the puck on net that slipped between Peterson's legs. The overtime tally was generated by Holstrom throwing the puck on net and crashing the net to find the puck in a scramble in front.

With Bailey's power play goal, the Nittany Lions improved their record to 10-2 when scoring on the man-advantage. The power play was a struggle for the team all season, but when it was clicking, it was a major factor in wins.

Freshman goaltender Matt Skoff (McKees Rocks, Pa.) came up huge, tying his career-high with 42 saves vs. the Badgers in the win. After a slow start to the season, Skoff arose as the lead man for the Nittany Lions between the pipes.

Wisconsin brought offensive pressure right out of the gate and Skoff was forced to be sharp early. He tracked the puck well and displayed great lateral movement, robbing multiple Badgers from the back side.

Like the victory on Jan.26 at Michigan State, the Nittany Lions fell into a 0-2 hole. Skoff found himself facing a 2-on-0 with two Wisconsin forwards and couldn't keep up with some tick-tack-toe passing and Mark Zengerle beat him high to give Wisconsin the early lead. With 6:41 left in the second Joseph LaBate just fired a puck at the net from a weird angle and the puck avoided Skoff.

Being a freshman goaltender playing in a Big Ten arena against a ranked team can be very stressful. After letting in the second goal, Gadowsky liked Skoff's mental toughness to bear down and shut out the Badgers the rest of the game.

 "That [second goal] is a tough goal to give up, in a tough environment and a tough time," Gadowsky said. "Instead of hanging his head, he re-focused. It was a tremendous job by Skoff."

Gadowsky said before the weekend matchup with Wisconsin that a rivalry would be on the rise, depending on what happens this weekend. Penn State beat a Wisconsin team on the road that was 5-3-2 in its last 10 games and coming off an upset victory against No. 2 Minnesota. The win was a big boost to the Penn State program, and a proper farewell for the seniors.

"I'm so happy for the seniors because this is such a great way for them to go out," said Gadowsky. "They've done so much for us. This is their playoffs, this is their final test and they were tremendous."

Penn State concluded its season with a 13-14 record and was 3-2 against teams they will face next season in the newly formed Big Ten Conference.

--NITTANY LIONS--

By Pat White GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--After what has been an exciting inaugural season for Penn State men's hockey, it seems only fitting that the Nittany Lions conclude the year with their biggest test of the season.

The saying "save the best for last" rings true this weekend, as the Nittany Lions (12-13) travel to Madison to face off against future Big Ten opponent Wisconsin (13-10-7) at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers are ranked No. 18 in the United States College Hockey Organization poll this week. They are in the hunt in the very competitive WCHA and coming off a victory against second-ranked Minnesota last Sunday.

This season has been about improving every game and this series will be a measuring stick to see how far Penn State has come as a developing program.

Head coach Guy Gadowsky knows the Badgers are in a hunt for a NCAA tournament berth and will be treating it as a playoff scenario. He hopes his team brings the same heart and determination to the game.

"I think it's a great experience for our program," Gadowsky said. "With where they are nationally right now, we know we're going to get their best game. These are two big games for them and we know it."

One player who is particularly familiar with Wisconsin is sophomore forward Max Gardiner (Deephaven, Minn.). Gardiner, who played at Minnesota his freshman year, has played at the Kohl Center and knows that it is a hostile environment. He had the opportunity to play against his brother, Jake, who was a former Wisconsin defenseman.

"There is a lot of excitement," Gardiner said. "It's a hostile environment and a fun place to play and everyone's been looking forward to this weekend. It will be fun to get back in that arena and play Wisconsin."

Penn State is looking to establish itself as a competitive program in what will be an elite Big Ten hockey conference next year. The future Big Ten teams have a combine 23 National Championships between four teams. Michigan leads the way with nine and Wisconsin has won four. Wisconsin won its last national crown in 2006 and made a finals appearance in 2010 in a loss to Boston College.

The journey to becoming one of the elite teams in the NCAA begins with a test this weekend against the Badgers. Freshman defenseman Joseph Lordo (St. Louis, Mo.) wants to ignite the rivalry spark with a win.

"It's our last weekend and we want to go out and show them what the future is going to be like," Lordo said. "It's going to be a rivalry. We're a good team now and we want to focus on these games, but there is a message we want to send for the future [of Big Ten play]."

There will be a bit of an adjustment going from the Greenberg Ice Pavilion to the Kohl Center, which provides one of the biggest ice surfaces in college hockey.

Most hockey surfaces are 200 feet by 85 feet in dimension, but Kohl Arena is 200 feet by 97 feet. The extra space caters to speed, good board play and puck-movement, which may benefit Penn State.

Gadowsky preaches working hard along the wall, something Gardiner agrees will be a key to success against Wisconsin.

"It shouldn't be too big of an adjustment," Gardiner said. "There's a little more space to make plays and we'll have to jump on pucks a little quicker."

It's no secret that the Nittany Lions have been plagued by injuries this season, especially on the blue line, but Lordo's return last weekend gave the team a boost after dressing only four defensemen the past two games. Lordo said he feels good and is looking forward to skating on the big ice.

"I thought I played well [last weekend] and tried to get my feet moving," Lordo said. "I had a good result. You get more ice [with five defensemen] and I enjoy it to get into the flow of the game."

Gadowsky is hopeful that junior defenseman Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.) can make his return against Wisconsin. Jensen would benefit with the larger ice surface because of his vision and ability to carry the puck up ice. Dressing six defensemen would take some of the burden off a defensive corps that has been taxed in the last few games.

Gadowsky gave the team an extra day off in preparation for the two game series on Sunday and Monday. He wants his team to be refreshed and focused after a busy weekend of THON, senior night and two games against a good Oklahoma squad.

If and how the extra day off and possible return of Jensen will affect the team is yet to be determined. One certainty is that this will be an entertaining series and a possible rivalry heading into Big Ten play next season. Gadowsky said the intensity of the rivalry all hinges upon this weekend's outcome.

"We're going to play each other four times from now on," Gadowsky said. "[A rivalry] really depends on what happens this weekend."

The Nittany Lions will face off against the Badgers at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Kohl Center before playing their second game on the Big Ten Network on Monday, Feb. 25 at 8:30 p.m.

--NITTANY LIONS--

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Athletics was heavily involved with the 41st IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON) held at the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend.

More than 700 dancers began standing at 6 p.m. on Friday and did not sit down or sleep until Sunday at 4 p.m. to raise awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer in the largest student-run philanthropy in the world.

Since 1977, THON has partnered with The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital with one goal in mind: conquering childhood cancer.  THON went to new heights on Sunday when a record of more than $12.37 million was raised for 2013.  To date, more than $100 million has been raised by THON.

Several Penn State student-athletes spent 46 hours on their feet in the annual dance marathon.  Representing the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) were Kristin Carpenter from the women's volleyball team and Annie Abdo from the field hockey squad.  Katlyn Elliott from women's golf and Marika Racibarskas from women's volleyball represented Penn State Hockey this weekend.

Additionally, Perry Hammershlag and Nicole Symeonides from the Lionetts squad and Paige McManus and Nicole Camporeale from Penn State cheerleading danced in THON.

Several teams and coaches played an active role in THON events throughout the weekend, in addition to squads participating in Saturday's annual pep rally and team dance competition.

We would also like to wish GoPSUsports.com student writers Matt Allibone and Kelsey Detweiler, along with Penn State Athletic Communications student assistant Angelis Lau the best of luck as they dance over the weekend, and the several student assistants actively involved with THON.

From start to finish, take a look through the updates from the involvement Penn State Athletics had in THON over the weekend on GoPSUsports.com. 

Friday Coverage:

4:45 p.m. - VIDEO: Pre-Dancing Interviews with Student-Athletes
Just over one hour from beginning the quest of spending 46-straight hours on their feet, we caught up with Marika Racibarskas from women's volleyball and Katlyn Elliott from women's golf for their final thoughts before the start of THON 2013. 

5 p.m. - VIDEO: Coach Chambers Addresses Crowd, Donates $14,200
Head coach Patrick Chambers pledged to donate $10 to THON 2013 for every student in attendance at Penn State's clash against Iowa on Thursday night in the Bryce Jordan Center.  On Friday evening, just before heading to the airport with the Nittany Lions for their trip to Michigan, Chambers addressed the crowd at THON and presented a check for $14,200.  Take a look.

Saturday Coverage:

8 a.m. - VIDEO: Hour 14 Interviews from Penn State Athletics Dancers
GoPSUsports.com caught up with women's volleyball student-athletes and 2013 dancers Marika Racibarskas and Kristin Carpenter just before 8 a.m. on Saturday morning for an update on how things were going 14 hours into the 46-hour dance marathon.  Additionally, we talked with GoPSUsports.com student writer and broadcaster Kelsey Detweiler, who is also dancing, for an update.  In addition to an interview, we asked all three what time they felt like it was.  Dancers are normally asked to avoid looking at the clock, and they rarely know what time it is.  Take a look at an hour 14 update from three Penn State Athletics representatives dancing in THON for the fight against pediatric cancer.

2 p.m. - VIDEO: Football Hosts THON Make-A-Wish Event
Seventy members of the Nittany Lion football team welcomed 28 THON Make-A-Wish children and their families to a special tour of the Lasch Football Building on Saturday afternoon.

The Make-A-Wish event is circled on the calendar for the Nittany Lions every year.  The THON families gathered inside the home of Penn State football to take photos, get autographs, tour the facility with the Nittany Lions, eat ice cream from the Penn State Creamery and take a photo in the locker room.

Head coach Bill O'Brien spoke to the group after it received the facility tour and signed autographs with the THON kids.  Take a look at the Make-A-Wish event at the Lasch Football Complex on Saturday.

Photo Gallery - THON Make-A-Wish

4:10 p.m. - PHOTO - Teams Participate in Athlete Hour
Student-athletes from across Penn State Athletics spent time with THON families and children inside the practice gym of the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday afternoon for Athlete Hour.

10:10 p.m. - VIDEO: Pep Rally Dance Competition Highlights
One of the THON highlights every year comes on Saturday night when the teams of Penn State Athletics hop on stage and compete in a dancing competition during the annual pep rally.  In all, 11 different teams competed in the 2013 version of the dance-off.

With resounding approval from a packed house in the Bryce Jordan Center, the Nittany Lion men's swimming team was named champion of the team dancing competition, largely thanks to its use of a prop pool to create a swimming scene mid-dance.  We have highlights of every team dancing on Saturday night at THON.  Take a look.

Photo Gallery - THON 2013 Pep Rally

Sunday Coverage:

12:55 p.m. - VIDEO: Coach O'Brien Addresses THON 2013
Head coach Bill O'Brien took the stage at THON on Sunday afternoon, urging the dancers to push through the "fourth quarter" of the 46-hour marathon.  O'Brien spoke before a capacity crowd inside the Bryce Jordan Center.  Take a look.

4:12 p.m. - VIDEO: THON 2013 Reveal - $12,374,034.46
THON 2013 reached new heights on Sunday afternoon when it was revealed that this year's efforts raised $12,374,034.46 for fight against pediatric cancer.  Watch a truly inspiring moment in front of a capacity crowd in the Bryce Jordan Center during the revealing of this year's total.  Congratulations to everyone involved in THON 2013.

Follow GoPSUsports.com's Tony Mancuso on Twitter @GoPSUTony

By Pat White GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.--In an emotional game for players, coaches, fans and alumni, Penn State (12-13) bid farewell to the Greenberg Ice Pavilion with a 3-0 victory against Oklahoma on Saturday (Feb. 16).

From the moment the players took the ice there was a bittersweet vibe throughout the arena. The fans brought their usual Penn State pride and the players were ready to take care of business after not having their best effort in Friday night's 4-1 victory. 

"There have been a lot of standards set and a foundation built," Gadowsky said. "Even the first time I came out and saw the student section and saw the support we had, it was fantastic."

The Penn State faithful did not disappoint this season, standing and chanting every game to give the team a motivational boost. Gadowsky reflected back on one of his favorite memories of the student section.

"[The fans] made it a really fun place to play," Gadowsky said. "I'll never forget when the PA system went off and the student section started singing the anthem. Those are the things I'll always remember."

The home rink didn't want to go out without a bang of its own. At the 4:08 mark in the first period, a pane of glass broke in front of the penalty box. Both teams went to the dressing room while rink attendants fixed the glass. The ice was cut and both teams played out the remaining time in what was essentially a 24 minute second period.

For the second straight night, establishing a flow to the game was difficult. Aside from the glass breaking, the low boards of the rink cause a lot of pucks to fly out of play and disrupt the flow. Gadowsky is looking forward to having higher boards at the Pegula Ice Arena next season.

Despite some of the rink's deficiencies in that respect, Gadowsky will still miss the character of the rink and its service to the State College community.

Greenberg Ice Pavilion was not the only goodbye being said over the weekend, as the seniors were honored before Saturday's game with their families. Brian Dolan (Havertown, Pa.) unfortunately did not dress due to injury, something Gadowsky was upset about, but he was proud of the seniors for their role in the inaugural season of Division I hockey.

"I'm happy for them and what they've done this year," Gadowsky said. "They will have a lot of pride in this forever. It was nice how it ended up with a tie game going in the third with all of them out there."

Gadowsky rehashed that last season was a yearlong tryout for the seniors and they worked their hardest to earn a spot on the team. Their leadership and willingness to accept identity roles is what makes them important pieces to the team.

The first two periods were a battle of the goaltenders. Matt Skoff (McKees Rocks, Pa.) was strong for Penn State and Colin Fernandes made some key saves to keep the Sooners in the game.

After taking a 1-0 lead off the stick of Curtis Loik (North Vancouver, B.C.), the power play took over with two goals to seal the game. Kenny Brooks (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Michael Longo (Allison Park, Pa.) found the back of the net on consecutive nights.

It was fitting that Longo finished his career on home ice by scoring against a club team where his career began. Longo said there was still a rivalry between the two teams stemming from knocking them out of nationals last season.

"It's always fun scoring, but it's even more special now that it's coming down to the last two games," Longo said. "For us club guys, when we come back and play these [ACHA] games we get more fired up because we've played them before."

Freshman Joseph Lordo (St. Louis, Mo.) made his return to the lineup on Saturday after sitting out with an injury. After dressing only four defensemen the past three games, Lordo provided a big boost to the defensive unit.  Having another defenseman alleviated the other defenders who had to play every other shift in the three previous games.

Defenseman Rich O'Brien (Furlong, Pa.) was glad to have Lordo back in the lineup. After a rough start to Saturday's game, O'Brien was happy with the result of his last game at home.

"Starting the game with all the seniors out there and we got to finish it up with that, too," O'Brien said. "The fans were great and a lot of alumni were in town and a lot of people I know. Overall it was a great time."

The weekend sweep was the proper goodbye to the place and the people that helped set the brickwork for the future of Penn State hockey. It was an emotional conclusion to a successful inaugural season of NCAA hockey in Happy Valley, but the job isn't over yet. The Nittany Lions now turn their focus to a visit to future Big Ten opponent Wisconsin next weekend.

--NITTANY LIONS--