Penn State Sweeps Notre Dame Behind Fink’s Historic Night and McKenna’s Breakout Performance
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - In Big Ten hockey, sweeps don’t come easy. But when you get one-especially in front of your home crowd-it’s a statement.
That’s exactly what No. 8 Penn State delivered Saturday night at Pegula Ice Arena, skating past Notre Dame 6-3 and capping off a dominant weekend with a performance that blended history, hustle, and a glimpse into the program’s future.
Let’s start with Aiden Fink, who just keeps adding to his legacy. Already the fastest player in program history to hit 100 career points-doing it in just 87 games-Fink added another milestone to his résumé Saturday night.
He notched four assists, tying the school record for most in a single game. That’s elite company, joining the likes of Alex Limoges, Andrew Sturtz, Connor McMenamin, and Matt DiMarsico.
Fink was everywhere, driving play and setting up teammates with the kind of vision and precision that makes him one of the most dangerous forwards in college hockey. But he wasn’t the only one lighting it up.
Freshman Gavin McKenna had the kind of night that can change a season-and maybe even a career. He scored twice, led all skaters with seven shots on goal, and looked every bit the rising star Penn State fans have been waiting for.
His second goal, a gritty finish in front of the net, gave the Nittany Lions breathing room in the third. And while he had a chance at a hat trick late, McKenna instead made the unselfish play, feeding captain Dane Dowiak for the final tally of the night.
That’s the kind of team-first mentality coaches love-and the kind of chemistry that wins games in March.
The tone was set early. JJ Wiebusch wasted no time, scoring just 17 seconds into the game-his first goal since Halloween. That early spark carried into a strong first period where Penn State blocked nine shots and extended the lead to 2-0 on a goal from defenseman Jackson Smith, his sixth of the year, with Fink picking up one of his four assists on the play.
But Notre Dame didn’t go quietly. The Irish struck back with two quick goals late in the first-just 15 seconds apart from Cole Knuble and Brennan Ali-to send the teams into the first intermission tied at 2-2.
The second period saw McKenna break a personal scoring drought that stretched back to early November. His goal put Penn State back on top, but a costly turnover during a power play allowed Notre Dame’s Sutter Mazzatti-playing in his 100th career game-to score shorthanded and knot things up at 3-3.
That could’ve been a momentum killer. Instead, Penn State responded like a veteran squad.
When Notre Dame captain Michael Mastrodomenico took an interference penalty, the Nittany Lions cashed in. Fink and Wiebusch connected to set up DiMarsico for a tap-in-his 14th goal of the season and fourth of the weekend-to restore the lead.
From there, it was all Penn State. McKenna’s second goal made it 5-3 in the third, and Dowiak’s late tally sealed the deal.
With the win, the Nittany Lions wrapped up a perfect homestand, building off a split with RIT and showing they’re locked in as Big Ten play heats up. Next up: a trip to Madison to face a red-hot Wisconsin team that’s racked up 15 wins and 22 conference points.
If Penn State keeps getting this kind of production from its stars-and its freshmen-they’re going to be a problem for anyone standing in their way.