Penn State Men's Hockey Ends Season with Heartbreaking NCAA Tournament Loss

Nittany Lions struggle to process early tournament exit after high expectations

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:21pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in vibrant colors that breaks down a hockey game into sharp, overlapping geometric planes, with players and action reduced to abstract shapes without any identifiable elements.The heartbreak of Penn State's early NCAA Tournament exit is captured in a cubist, deconstructed painting that reflects the raw emotion and shattered dreams of the Nittany Lions' season.Albany Today

The Penn State men's hockey team saw its season come to an end with a 3-1 loss to Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions, who had championship aspirations this year, were left in tears in the locker room as they grappled with the disappointment of an early tournament exit.

Why it matters

Penn State had built up a talented roster this season, adding several high-profile recruits to a core group that made the Frozen Four last year. The early tournament loss was a major letdown for a team that had its sights set on a national title, and the raw emotion in the locker room after the game underscored just how much this defeat stung for the players.

The details

The Nittany Lions struggled to find their usual high-octane offensive game after losing star center Charlie Cerrato to injury in the second period. Without Cerrato, Penn State was forced to adjust its lines and play a more defensive style that played into Minnesota-Duluth's hands. A late turnover by freshman Gavin McKenna led to the game-winning goal for the Bulldogs, crushing Penn State's hopes of advancing.

  • Penn State lost 3-1 to Minnesota-Duluth on Friday, March 28, 2026 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Cerrato was injured in the second period and was unable to finish the game.

The players

Gavin McKenna

A freshman forward for Penn State who was in tears after the loss, saying he's experienced tough losses before but this one "sucks" because of how close the team had become.

Dane Dowiak

The Nittany Lions' team captain, who was seen consoling the emotional McKenna in the locker room after the game.

Aiden Fink

A junior forward for Penn State who was hunched over and sobbing into his jersey after the defeat.

Ben Schoen

A redshirt senior for the Nittany Lions who had tears streaming down his face following the season-ending loss.

Charlie Cerrato

Penn State's star center who was injured in the second period, forcing the team to adjust its lines and play style, which ultimately proved costly in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“I've definitely experienced some tough losses in my life. Yeah. I think, obviously, this one sucks when you become so close with the team, and then it all comes to an end. You know that sucks, leaving your brothers. It sucks.”

— Gavin McKenna, Penn State forward

“We had to adjust the lines and couldn't roll forward anymore. So it's tough to play at the tempo that we want to play at. I give [Cerrato] a ton of credit for trying. He's gone through a lot in the last few months. Really wanted to give it everything to help this team win, and he did, just couldn't make it through the whole game. But I give him a lot of credit.”

— Guy Gadowsky, Penn State head coach

“I mean, yeah, it sucks losing our captain. Really f– really hard. He's such a big piece to us, and [Cerrato] being hurt, playing through injury, trying to play through injury, really messes up the lines. Like, we got guys playing different roles than they played all year. It's definitely a tough place to be, but no excuses. We wanted to win. We wanted to win bad. But next year we're gonna remember this, and next year we're gonna win a [national championship].”

— Jackson Smith, Penn State forward

What’s next

The Nittany Lions will look to regroup and come back stronger next season, with several key players potentially turning pro and others returning with a renewed determination to win a national championship.

The takeaway

Penn State's early NCAA Tournament exit was a major disappointment for a team with championship aspirations, but the raw emotion and determination shown by the players in the locker room suggests they will use this loss as motivation to come back even stronger next season.