Meet the Freshmen Stars of the 2017 No. 11 Men’s Hockey Team
It’s a big week for No. 11 Men’s Hockey as the team buckles down to put in the work needed to beat rival Michigan, who is heading to Happy Valley for a Friday/Saturday series this weekend.
Thanks to a magical 2016 season, the recruiting capabilities of the Penn State Men’s Hockey program skyrocketed, attracting a multitude of fresh, new talent. Get to know the incoming freshmen, some of who have already taken to the ice and made an impact early on this season.
Cole Hults (Stoughton, Wis.) – This freshman defender has made some moves already this season by securing two goals for the Lions during the series against the American International College, despite his normal position as a defender. Hults comes to Happy Valley from the Madison Capitols, where he led the team with 32 points on six goals. He was drafted 134th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Alex Limoges (Winchester, Va.) – This 6’1, 200-pound forward is described by Head Coach Guy Gadowsky as being both a “very smart” and “complete” hockey player who will “contribute in all aspects of our game.” Limoges was on the Waterloo Black Hawks and helped the team to the Clark Cup Western Conference Finals. Limoges clinched 101 points on 37 goals and 64 assists over two seasons in the USHL.
Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) – Barratt comes to Penn State from the United States National Team Development Program, and the forward was drafted 90th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Barratt has experience on the U17 and U18 U.S. National Teams and helped lead the national team to a Gold Medal in the 2017 World Junior Championships.
Alex Stevens (Plymouth, Minn.) – Stevens, who hails from one of the states best known for producing skilled hockey players, holds it down on defense and comes from the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The 6’1, 200-pound player is described by Gadowsky as having “good size” a “booming shot from the point.”
Sam Sternschein (Syosset, N.Y.) – This New Yorker plays up front with the offense and uses his impressive 6’1, 204-pound frame to get ahead of the other team and sink shots. Formerly of the Lincoln Stars, Sternschein logged 20 goals, 12 assists and 32 total points for the Stars over 45 games. Sternschein boasts 115 career USHL games across three teams.
Fans will remember the impact that last year’s freshmen, especially Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia), Nikita Pavlychev (Yaroslavl, Russia) and Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) had on the team’s epic season. We expect this group of five stellar newcomers will do the same. See you at Pegula this weekend, Penn State!
Thanks to a magical 2016 season, the recruiting capabilities of the Penn State Men’s Hockey program skyrocketed, attracting a multitude of fresh, new talent. Get to know the incoming freshmen, some of who have already taken to the ice and made an impact early on this season.
Cole Hults (Stoughton, Wis.) – This freshman defender has made some moves already this season by securing two goals for the Lions during the series against the American International College, despite his normal position as a defender. Hults comes to Happy Valley from the Madison Capitols, where he led the team with 32 points on six goals. He was drafted 134th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Alex Limoges (Winchester, Va.) – This 6’1, 200-pound forward is described by Head Coach Guy Gadowsky as being both a “very smart” and “complete” hockey player who will “contribute in all aspects of our game.” Limoges was on the Waterloo Black Hawks and helped the team to the Clark Cup Western Conference Finals. Limoges clinched 101 points on 37 goals and 64 assists over two seasons in the USHL.
Evan Barratt (Bristol, Pa.) – Barratt comes to Penn State from the United States National Team Development Program, and the forward was drafted 90th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Barratt has experience on the U17 and U18 U.S. National Teams and helped lead the national team to a Gold Medal in the 2017 World Junior Championships.
Alex Stevens (Plymouth, Minn.) – Stevens, who hails from one of the states best known for producing skilled hockey players, holds it down on defense and comes from the Dubuque Fighting Saints. The 6’1, 200-pound player is described by Gadowsky as having “good size” a “booming shot from the point.”
Sam Sternschein (Syosset, N.Y.) – This New Yorker plays up front with the offense and uses his impressive 6’1, 204-pound frame to get ahead of the other team and sink shots. Formerly of the Lincoln Stars, Sternschein logged 20 goals, 12 assists and 32 total points for the Stars over 45 games. Sternschein boasts 115 career USHL games across three teams.
Fans will remember the impact that last year’s freshmen, especially Denis Smirnov (Moscow, Russia), Nikita Pavlychev (Yaroslavl, Russia) and Nate Sucese (Fairport, N.Y.) had on the team’s epic season. We expect this group of five stellar newcomers will do the same. See you at Pegula this weekend, Penn State!
