Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/916653
"He'll do anything to win, which is what this team needs," forward Andrew Sturtz said. "There's more than just the captain and two assistants. This kid's a natural leader. ... The way he lays his body on the line for the team every night, it just shows how bad he wants to win and how bad he wants to be a part of Penn State hockey." Hamilton's instincts are what enable him to get in front of pucks, and he said it's a mindset that he and his teammates share. "I've always taken that into considera- tion, obviously doing what I can to help the goaltenders out," he said. "I think, not only me, but [defenseman] Kris Myllari and a bunch of other forwards, they all do it really well. I think it's becoming an identity every game. It's really helping us win and obviously keeping pucks out of the back of the net, so I think we're taking that for granted now and making it more of an identity." With swift skates and a durable 6-foot- 0, 198-pound frame, Hamilton played an important role in Penn State's recent de- fensive surge, which in turn led to a long unbeaten streak beginning in mid-No- vember. However, the senior excels of- fensively for the Nittany Lions as well. Following the Nittany Lions' two-game series against Robert Morris in early De- cember, Hamilton was the third-highest- scoring defenseman in the nation, with four goals and 14 assists through 20 games. His numbers were rapidly ap- proaching those from a season ago, when Gadowsky said Hamilton often played hurt. "He's got a bit of a goal-scorer's men- tality for a guy who's so defensive and who plays so tough," Gadowsky said. "Someone who blocks so many shots and is so tough to play against, you really don't think of as a goal-scorer, but he is. He's got a great shot. It's not luck. He's a guy who picks his head up and picks cor- ners, he doesn't just fire away. I think he's a unique defenseman that way." Fittingly, Hamilton has achieved his of- fensive success amid significant on-ice adversity. Kevin Kerr, who typically forms a pairing with Hamilton, has endured a season laden with injuries, forcing Hamilton to play with three other defen- sive partners. "It certainly says a lot [about] him as someone who has the ability to produce on his own," Gadowsky said. This season's success – both in the win column and on the score sheet – tastes a little extra sweet for Hamilton given the path he traveled to get where he is. "I've had a lot of downers in my career," Hamilton said, "and obviously I've been many different places. It's a good thing to do, and I know my parents are really proud. It's been a long trek, and it's com- ing to an end soon here with college but I'm hoping to move on and go play some- where else after this." ■ pect them to produce," Gadowsky said. "That wasn't a surprise to me." Biro also found Smirnov for a goal on the power play in the second game of the two-game series. The star sopho- more walked the puck in from the blue line and 3red it top-shelf from the high slot to make his 3rst appearance on the score sheet following his ab- sence. Smirnov was aided by taking shorter shi5s than his teammates, who were already limiting their ice time to deal with the speed of Ohio State. "I'm more excited about two wins here [than the goal]," Smirnov said. "It was good, anyway, to score a goal and kind of get that weight o4 my shoulder and get con3dence back." FOLKES MAKING STRIDES Most Penn State fans probably reference a singular moment when they think of Liam Folkes. As a freshman a season ago, Folkes scored on a breakaway in overtime against Wisconsin to earn the Nittany Lions their 3rst Big Ten title. That was one of only six goals Folkes tallied in his debut season, a number he tied this year as a sophomore in nine fewer games. "He is scoring, but the biggest change is in two speci3c areas," Gad- owsky said. "One, his battles have been unbelievable. He really takes it person- ally now every battle that he gets into. And then his care of the puck entering the o4ensive zone has been another one. He's made the decision that he's going to play high-level hockey that way." Gadowsky added that he's also been impressed with Folkes' tenacity on the backcheck. Through 20 games, he was eighth on the team with 12 points, proving him- self to be an asset on both ends of the ice. –D.E.