Penn State men's hockey loses first defenseman to Transfer Portal

Sophomore Cade Christenson departs after strong freshman season

Apr. 13, 2026 at 11:40pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey defenseman in action, with sharp, overlapping planes of blue and white representing the Penn State colors.The departure of a key defenseman leaves Penn State's hockey team with a void to fill on the blue line.Penn State Erie Today

Penn State men's hockey has lost its first player to the Transfer Portal, with sophomore defenseman Cade Christenson announcing his intention to enter the portal. Christenson was a standout on the blue line for the Nittany Lions, earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the Allentown Regional All-Tournament Team in his first season.

Why it matters

Christenson's departure is a significant loss for Penn State's defensive corps, which has already seen the graduation of two other key blueliners. While the team still has talent on the back end, replacing Christenson's production and leadership will be a challenge as the Nittany Lions look to rebuild their forward group.

The details

As a freshman, Christenson played in 39 games, recording 9 points on 2 goals and 7 assists. He also led the Big Ten and ranked 6th nationally with 79 blocked shots, tying a Penn State single-season record. In his abbreviated sophomore campaign, Christenson had 7 points in 21 games and a plus-10 rating, further cementing his status as a key contributor on the blue line.

  • Christenson entered the Transfer Portal on April 13, 2026.
  • He made his 2025-26 season debut in January after recovering from a prior injury.

The players

Cade Christenson

A sophomore defenseman who was a standout for Penn State, earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Allentown Regional All-Tournament Team honors in his first season.

Carter Schade

A defenseman who graduated following the 2025-26 season, leaving a hole in Penn State's blue line.

Jarod Crespo

Another defenseman who graduated after the 2025-26 season, further depleting Penn State's defensive corps.

Jackson Smith

A rising sophomore defenseman who had 31 blocks in 35 games last season.

Nolan Collins

A rising sophomore defenseman who had 37 blocks in 37 games last season.

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What’s next

Penn State must now focus on rebuilding its forward group and finding a way to replace the production and leadership that Christenson provided on the blue line.

The takeaway

The loss of Cade Christenson to the Transfer Portal is a blow to Penn State's hockey program, as he was a key contributor on the defensive end. The Nittany Lions will need to find a way to replace his production and leadership as they look to rebuild their forward group and maintain their competitiveness in the Big Ten.