Penn State Hockey in the Pros: April 9 Update
The Penn State hockey season may be over, but plenty of Blue and White alumni are making a splash elsewhere. Let’s take a look at how some former Nittany Lions are performing in the pros.
Alex Limoges
Coming into the 2020-21 season, there was no doubt that Alex Limoges would be the heart and soul of a younger Penn State team. In his senior year, Limoges was appointed the honor of becoming captain and did not disappoint, posting 22 points and 10 goals.
After being eliminated in the Big Ten tournament at the hands of Wisconsin, Limoges packed his bags for San Diego, signing a professional tryout with the San Diego Gulls, an AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks.
The Winchester, Virginia native has performed exceptionally well in six games, producing one goal and five assists for six points. Since debuting on March 27 versus the Tucson Roadrunners, Limoges provided a spark to the Gulls roster, igniting a four-game winning streak. If Limoges can continue his early success in the AHL, he is sure to catch the eyes of Ducks management back in Anaheim.
Nate Sucese
The all-time leading goal scorer of Hockey Valley has found a home in the desert as a member of the Tucson Roadrunners, an AHL affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes, signing a one-year, entry-level contract back on March 20, 2020. Sucese was a dominant forward during his time at Penn State, sniping pucks on net and setting up teammates for goals.
In 21 games played, Sucese has tallied eight points so far, split evenly between goals and assists. Despite not tearing up the stat sheet as he once did at Penn State, Sucese has played quality minutes in one of the more grueling pro leagues, placing higher on the team’s scorers list then more prominent prospects such as Tyler Steenbergen and Barrett Hayton.
If Sucese can find the scoring touch he had against opponents in the NCAA and the USHL, more eyes in the hockey world will follow his development as a pro.
Brandon Biro
Few players have had as marvelous a career at Penn State as Brandon Biro did. Biro was a consistent, reliable player for Guy Gadowsky in his four years, sitting fourth in program history in points and acting as the captain for the 2019-2020 Big Ten regular-season championship team.
As a member of the Rochester Americans, an AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres, Biro has collected two goals and three assists for five points. Biro has had trouble adjusting to the AHL, holding a minus-six rating.
However, there is one thing benefiting Biro: the Sabres are the worst team in the NHL and are staring down a complete rebuild. Thus, more opportunities for Biro to find his game and attract the attention of management back in Buffalo could be on the way.
Nikita Pavlychev
The 6-foot-7-inch native of Yaroslavl, Russia became an all-time fan favorite in Hockey Valley with his combination of physicality and occasional humor. Since leaving Penn State, the former seventh-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015 has split time within the Tampa Bay Lightning’s farm system.
In 14 games played between the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch and the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, Pavlychev has gathered five points, two coming on goals.
Staying out of the penalty box was a problem for Pavlychev at Penn State, as he collected 183 penalty minutes in 137 games played, and he’s got 14 penalty minutes in the pros already. Pavlychev will have to clean up his game and find another way to have an impact if he wishes to make a career in North America.
Jordan Hession is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email hessionjordan@gmail.com.
