It’s arguably the biggest, most important series in Penn State men’s hockey history.
A resurgent Penn State team, 9-1-2 in its last dozen games and 15th in the Pairwise Rankings, hosts the nation’s second-ranked team, Minnesota (23-7-4), which features former Penn State goaltender Liam Souliere, this weekend at Pegula Ice Arena.
Minnesota has won six in a row against Penn State, with a cumulative 18-4 scoring advantage and three shutouts in that span. Conversely, Penn State is 7-3 vs. Minnesota in the last 10 games in Hockey Valley.
Additionally, Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky has 399 career victories and would become just the 30th Division I coach to reach 400 with another W.
There’s a lot at stake, and how everything looks at the end of the weekend will be interesting with results that resonate for a while.
How it looks before the puck drops will be interesting, too.
For Penn State’s regular season home finale Saturday, the team’s seniors get to choose the uniform combination — and they have plenty of options, thanks in large part to Ben Kogut, the team’s equipment manager.
The throwback uniforms the team unveiled this season — with a PS on the chest, leather-looking gloves and pants, and blue-and-white striped socks — have a good chance at being selected, something that might please both players and fans.
Kogut helped design the uniforms, shepherded them through the approval process at Penn State, with ample support from athletic and university administrators, and worked with suppliers and vendors to bring them to life.
“It’s something that had been cooking in the back of my mind for a while,” says Kogut, whose father was a graphic designer and who has an affinity for classic Montreal Canadiens jerseys. “I saw a photo of the 1940-41 team, and I thought it looked so cool. The crest was so different, the whole barber pole old-school hockey thing. I was always more of a classic hockey kind of guy.”
Penn State had long been a Nike client for its hockey uniforms, but as its Olympic supply schedule changed, which impacted college teams, and as its overall approach changed, Kogut sought out different options. While Nike leaned more toward metallic looks, Kogut wanted something more classic.
Then, when Nike announced it was leaving hockey, the decision to find another supplier became easier.
Exclusive Pro, the Illinois-based company that had long been providing nameplates for Penn State hockey jerseys, quickly became the preferred provider. “We showed them the Nike mockup and asked them to show us something similar,” Kogut says. “As soon as I saw their first mockup, I was sold.”
The combination offers touches for decades of Penn State hockey, especially the team’s club years with that logo on the pants. “I really didn’t think the PSU logo on the pants would get approved. You have to look at it a little to see the hockey sticks in letters and the puck, and we were never able to find the original designer. Still, that addition really completes it.”
As the uniforms were slowly rolled out to the team, their response was just as positive and strong as Kogut’s — validating all his planning and work. The uniforms were ordered last March.
“The staff was really excited, and the guys were too,” Kogut says. “I wasn’t sure a lot of 18- to 22-year-olds were going to be excited by an old-school look, but they were.”
The team planned to wear the uniforms only three times, but the response has been strong because the look is compelling and different. It’s special and stylish.
The jersey design efforts show the breadth and depth of Kogut’s talents.
An equipment manager, at least this equipment manager, does more than order sticks and sharpen skates. Plus, there’s always breakage to worry about — and goalie equipment offers unending opportunities to adjust and repair.
Kogut always worries about the team’s appearance, on and off the ice, His influence stretches to duffel bags, sweatshirts, toiletry bags and T-shirts. If the team looks good, it’s because of his efforts.
If it looks good while winning, that’s even better.
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