Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/541265
MEN'S ICE HOCKEY Lions add three to freshman class Fresh off the first winning season in its short varsity history, Penn State recently added three prospects to its incoming freshman class: goaltender Chris Funkey of Orland Park, Ill., and defensemen De- rian Hamilton of Port McNeill, British Columbia, and Vince Pedrie of Rochester, Minn. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Funkey was a three-year starter for the New Jersey Hitmen of the United States Premier Hockey League and helped lead the team to two league championships in three years, posting a 1.41 goals-against aver- age and .947 save percentage in the playoffs this past season. Previously, he spent three years with the Chicago Mis- sion U16 and U18 clubs. "Chris is a fierce competitor and an athletic goaltender," coach Guy Gad- owsky said. "In his three years, he led the Hitmen to two league champi- onships, posting impressive numbers along the way. While serving as a cap- tain last year, he proved himself to be not only a great teammate, but also the pre- mier goaltender in the USPHL." Funkey said he came away dazzled af- ter his visit to University Park. "From the time I stepped on campus and into Pegula Ice Arena until the time I left, it felt like the place I wanted to spend the next four years," he said. "I was blown away by everything about the university, the hockey program and the community as a whole. " Hamilton, who stands 6-1, 175 pounds, played four seasons in the Vancouver Is- land Junior Hockey League for the Nanaimo Buccaneers (2012-14), Comox Valley Glacier Kings (2013-15) and select games for the Powell River Kings (2015) of the British Columbia Hockey League. In VIJHL action, he totaled 173 appear- ances with 37 goals, 132 assists and 169 points. Gadowsky called him "a great skating defenseman" who can "break pucks out on his own because of his skating abili- ty. He is a smart player who moves the puck well and is able to create a lot of offense." The 6-0, 185-pound Pedrie (pro- nounced PEE-dree) played four seasons in the United States Hockey League for the Omaha Lancers (2011-13), Indiana Ice (2012-14), Bloomington Thunder (2014-15) and Tri-City Storm (2015). He totaled 203 games, with 22 goals and 45 assists. "Vince is a good skating defenseman who likes to get up in the rush and add to the offense," Gadowsky said. "He has a good shot from the point. He comes to Penn State with a lot of experience, hav- ing played in 203 USHL games. He should be able to step in from day one and help out on the blue line." Pedrie said he chose Penn State be- cause "it presented the absolute best ac- ademic and athletic opportunity I could ever have hoped for." Funkey, Hamilton and Pedrie are set to join the four players who signed with Penn State last November in the team's 2015 recruiting class. The earlier signees are forwards Chase Berger of St. Louis, Alec Marsh of Bridgewater, N.J., and Matt Mendelson of Pittsburgh, and de- fenseman Kevin Kerr of Bensalem, Pa. Denis Smirnov of Dunmore, Pa., has de- ferred his freshman season until 2016-17 as he further develops in the USHL with the Fargo Force. Smirnov signed his let- ter of intent in November at the same time as Berger, Kerr, Marsh and Mendel- son. ■ N O T E B O O K ALL SPORTS PSU finishes eighth in Directors' Cup For the third consecutive year and the 11th time in the past 22 years, Penn State earned a top-10 finish in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings. The Nittany Lions placed No. 8 in the final 2014-15 rankings, remaining one of only nine programs nation- wide to have finished in the top 25 in all 22 Directors' Cup final standings. Penn State has earned three con- secutive top-10 Directors' Cup fin- ishes for the first time since the ini- tial three years of the program, from 1993-94 through 1995-96. The Nit- tany Lions were No. 4 in the fall 2014 standings, earning their highest fall finish in five years, and No. 2 in the final winter standings. "This recognition is further evi- dence of the comprehensive excel- lence everyone [in Intercollegiate Athletics] strives for in their daily in- teractions," Penn State athletic direc- tor Sandy Barbour said. "It's a tribute to the students, coaches and support staff who are dedicated to empower- ing student achievement and success with honor." Penn State earned 1,060.75 Direc- tors' Cup points, tallying more than 1,000 points for the third consecutive year and fourth time overall.