Penn State Captain Dane Dowiak Out for Season

Upper-body injury sidelines team's top two-way player for remainder of year

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Penn State men's hockey team will be without captain Dane Dowiak for the rest of the season after he suffered an upper-body injury, the school announced. Dowiak, the team's leading scorer and top two-way player, said he will continue to support the squad from off the ice as they push for postseason positioning.

Why it matters

Dowiak's absence is a significant blow to a Penn State team fighting for seeding in the Big Ten Tournament and NCAA Tournament. As the team's captain and top center, his two-way play and leadership will be difficult to replace as the Nittany Lions navigate the remainder of their schedule.

The details

Dowiak, who has 10 points in 7 games since being promoted to the top line, suffered an upper-body injury that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Despite the setback, Dowiak pledged to continue supporting the team as a captain off the ice, and expressed confidence that his teammates will elevate their leadership to make up for his absence.

  • Dowiak announced the injury on February 17, 2026.
  • He will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

The players

Dane Dowiak

Penn State's team captain and leading scorer, who suffered an upper-body injury that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

Guy Gadowsky

Penn State's head coach, who will need to shuffle the lineup and find a replacement for Dowiak at center.

Pat Kraft

Penn State's athletic director, who has supported Dowiak and the team throughout the season and recovery process.

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What they’re saying

“While this is incredibly disappointing, it does not change my belief in this team. What we're building has never been stronger. I'll continue to support my guys every step of the way as a captain off the ice, and I know the entire team will elevate its leadership on the ice in my absence. Nothing will get in the way of what we're building.”

— Dane Dowiak, Penn State Team Captain (X)

What’s next

Penn State will look to find a replacement for Dowiak at center starting this Friday against Ohio State at Pegula Ice Arena.

The takeaway

Dowiak's injury is a significant setback for a Penn State team with postseason aspirations, but the Nittany Lions will need to rally around their captain's positive attitude and find a way to overcome his absence through collective leadership and elevated play from the rest of the roster.