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ALTOONA, Pa. — It’s taken some time, but Penn State Altoona’s club ice hockey team has regrouped and rebuilt in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its previous years of existence, the team belonged to the College Hockey East (CHE) league, a mixed American collegiate hockey association for universities in the Western Pennsylvania region. In its re-emergent year of 2023, the team also joined the Delaware Valley College Hockey Conference (DVCHC) for the first time, a conference that includes teams from the mid-Atlantic area of the country.

This gave the club more playing time and more competition. It was a successful season in terms of getting players back on the ice and back into shape. Further, it was a time to learn how to work as a team and get into the swing of competing again.

Team members also worked hard to promote the club and recruit for the 2024-25 season. They nailed it because the number of people who showed up for try-outs in the fall was the highest ever, according to Tom Lantz, this year’s general manager. Lantz has also served as general manager or head coach over the last 15 years.

Once the team was selected, players hit the ice hard.

Penn State Altoona student and goalie Roan McCormick said from day one, the goal was to bring home a championship banner from each league.

Roan McCormick and Jake Fabricant fight at the net at a home game against California University.

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McCormick came to Penn State Altoona in 2023. He said he was excited to learn about the club hockey team as he had assumed leaving high school meant leaving his hockey days behind as well.

Instead, he found new friends, a team to belong to and a home on the ice.

He said a couple of new things incorporated this year were helpful in building the team’s success, including dryland practices. They were basic workouts — pushups, sit ups and some running, that sort of thing.

“It wasn’t anything crazy, but we had that extra time together on top of our normal practice schedule,” McCormick said. “I think a solid team chemistry was a really big factor toward us wanting to win, not for ourselves, but for each other.”

Andrew Duey celebrates his goal at a home game against Shippensburg.

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This was Denton Park’s first year at Penn State Altoona and on the hockey team.

“I wasn’t sure what it would be like to go from a team I’d been playing on pretty much my whole life to one where I didn’t know anyone,” Park said. “But leadership was great about bringing everyone together quickly. They were so welcoming and inclusive and big on team effort and working together.”

Coach Dave Mueller makes it a priority to build that culture, that community where everyone supports each other first and foremost.

Mueller wanted to play Penn State Altoona club hockey when he started at the college in 2020. Unfortunately, he never had the chance as the pandemic hit, and there weren’t enough players to form a team the following year. He transferred to University Park and graduated with a degree in finance.

In August 2023, he was approached by Lantz and club members about becoming their assistant coach, a position he eagerly accepted. He took over as head coach this year.

Mueller lives in Hollidaysburg and is working toward a master’s of business administration from West Chester University. He coaches a youth league and a high school team in addition to Penn State Altoona’s club.

He clearly loves to coach and certainly loves the competitive side of the sport — but it’s more than that for him.

“We want to make sure that players are building their own skill sets, but in turn that builds our skill set as a team,” Mueller said. “When we focus on building something together, something bigger than us as individuals, that’s when everyone feels like they have a place and that they belong. And that’s really what it’s about.”

Mueller said he could tell from the get-go that this year’s group of players were dedicated to the team and extremely motivated. They were willing to learn and grow, and they wanted to make a statement that Penn State Altoona was a contender for those banners.

The first game of the season was a home-opener against Robert Morris University, back-to-back defending CHE champs. Altoona took them down 7-4.

“That really got us off to a hot start,” Parksaid. “It gave us a lot of confidence and a good feeling for the year ahead.”

The team ready to take the ice for a home game against Robert Morris University

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Yet, everyone recognized there was still a lot of work to do, and it wouldn’t be an open road to success. The season came with as many hiccups as highs.

Mueller made sure to address problems and weaknesses as they came up.

“I think reflection was a big part of our success,” Mueller said. “We didn’t just write things off, didn’t just move on and forget about them. We watched footage, we talked about what we could learn from our losses and how to regroup and move forward. It was always about how to improve and grow as a team.”

Players dug in time and time again.

“We knew we had our work cut out for us, but we always gave it our all,” McCormick said. “We knew what it would take to win.”

All of that effort, drive and focus led the team where they planned to be all along — to the playoffs of both leagues.

The team took its first crack at that two-banner goal with the CHE championship game in Pittsburgh on February 28.

They met once again with Robert Morris University, a team they’d beaten three times during the regular season. Coming up against them for a fourth time in the championship proved to be as much a mental game as a physical one.

Tyler Kearney at the face-off of Penn State Altoona’s third match up with Robert Morris University.

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“It all came down to that day, that game. Coach reminded us that everything we’d done before didn’t matter, and we couldn’t take anything for granted,” Park said.

The team jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, starting momentum. They pressed on the gas all the way through the game, which ended in a 5-1 victory and that coveted banner, the fourth CHE championship for Penn State Altoona.

“We all wanted it,” McCormick said. “We all wanted to be there, to be on the team and to be there for each other. We all wanted to win for our teammates right next to us.”

To be sure, team members were thrilled about the big win, but celebrations were somewhat muted because the very next day, they would head to Philadelphia for the DVCHC semi-finals.

Team photo after the College Hockey East championship win.

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“We celebrated, and we were happy,” McCormick said. “But we were pretty focused on the weekend as a whole. You could feel the desire to win another one.”

Park agreed.

“The job wasn’t finished,” Park said. “It was awesome to get the CHE win, and we were definitely excited about it, but we were totally in the mindset of two banners.”

Early Saturday morning, the team headed to the eastern side of the state to take on a nearly undefeated Bucknell in round one of the DVCHC playoffs.

They fought hard, gave everything they had, but they fell 3-1. Bucknell went on to win the championship.

It was a heartbreaking defeat.

“It was a tough loss to take,” McCormick said. “But looking back on it now, I know that just because we lost the second game doesn’t mean the CHE win didn’t happen or matter. I’m happy to have that win and happy to have done it with this group.”

“It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” Park said. “It was a lot of fun, and we’ll always have this. There will always be that banner hanging in our home rink, Galactic Ice, with our names on it.”

Mueller said he is impressed with what the team accomplished this season. He’s proud of the fight the players always showed, the heart they put into everything.

“A lot of times when things don’t go your way, it’s very easy to throw in the towel and give up,” Mueller said. “I never saw that from our group. They were nonstop the entire year, and their effort never wavered.”

Team captain Christian Strang raises the College Hockey East trophy after the championship game against Robert Morris University in February. 

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Mueller also said it would have been incredible to clinch the DVCHC, but the loss doesn’t change the rest of the team’s success. Every single person, from player to managerial staff, can look back on this season and be incredibly proud.

This season may be over, but team members already have their eyes on the next one.

Park will take over as president of the club. He and the rest of the board have begun a recruitment campaign and are thinking about scheduling some non-conference games for extra playtime and challenge.

Park said he is excited about what’s ahead.

“Of course, we’ll be in the mindset of bringing home two banners,” Park said. “We want to push ourselves as hard as we can and keep improving. We want to play and have fun for ourselves, but also for everyone beside us.”

Mueller will return as head coach, and he has a clear vision for the program.

“My core goals are the same,” Mueller said. “We’ll enforce that team culture and positive environment. I want everyone who joins our program to build on their own character and skill set. I want them to do what they love and know they belong somewhere — here in the Penn State Altoona ice hockey club.”

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LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell women’s soccer coach Kelly Cook has announced the signing of nine recruits for 2025.

The promising recruiting class is set to join a program that has been the Patriot League’s best for the last four years. The Bison captured three straight conference titles from 2021-23, and last year Bucknell won the regular-season crown before falling in the 10th round of penalty kicks in the tournament final.

Joining the Bison next fall will be high school and club teammates Dani Howard and Gaby Parker from Freehold Township High School in New Jersey; Lizzie Arthur from Moorestown (N.J.) High School; Leah Bolson from DePaul Catholic High School in New Jersey; Audrey Campbell from Northern Highlands Regional High School in New Jersey; Emma Gavin from Oliver Ames High School in Massachusetts; Elie Kotler, who attended New Trier High School in Illinois but played exclusively with Chicago FC United; Audra Toth from Westfield (N.J.) High School; and Kenice Wilson from Connetquot High School on Long Island.

“I am very excited about the nine women who will join the team this fall,” said Cook. “The group brings tremendous athleticism and covers a variety of positions, and I think the class as a whole will have a first-year impact on the team. It’s a vocal group, and I love the energy that they will provide both on and off the field.”

Here is a closer look at Bucknell’s 2025 recruiting class:

Lizzie Arthur
Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown H.S./PDA South ECNL

Personal/High School: Born July 26, 2007 in Philadelphia, Pa. … parents are Kiersten and Grier Arthur … has two older siblings, Maddie and Tyler … mother played field hockey and softball at Princeton … father played soccer at Princeton … captained the soccer team at Moorestown High School … two-time all-conference selection … All-South Jersey and South Jersey Senior All-Star in 2024 … named South Region Top-20 at New Jersey All-State banquet … played club soccer with PDA South ECNL … team qualified for the national playoffs in 2024.

Kelly Cook Says: “Lizzie is a tenacious midfielder with a tremendous work rate, a great two-way player. She is very strong defensively, but also has good vision and can be a presence in the attacking half.”

Leah Bolson
Wayne, N.J./DePaul Catholic H.S./World Class FC

Personal/High School: Born Apr. 28, 2007 in Ridgewood, N.J. … parents are Chrissy and Matt Bolson … has two sisters, Emily and Lauren … two-sport standout in soccer and lacrosse at DePaul Catholic High School … captained the soccer team … all-county and all-league selection as both a junior and senior … earned honorable mention honors as a freshman and sophomore … part of teams that went 66-6-2 with a high national ranking of No. 7 during her career … part of a state championship team in 2021, and state/county/sectional championship teams in each of the next three years … recorded 20 goals and 27 assists in her career … in lacrosse also earned all-county and academic all-league honors … part of a league championship squad in 2024 … recorded 50 goals, 30 assists, 209 ground balls, 91 draw controls, and 60 caused turnovers in her career … played club soccer for World Class FC.

Kelly Cook Says: “Leah brings great pace and will be very effective in the wide areas. She is a technical, skilled player with a great engine. She loves to get up and down the field and will be able to play multiple positions.”

Audrey Campbell
HoHoKus, N.J./Northern Highlands Regional H.S./Match Fit Academy ECNL

Personal/High School: Born Oct. 25, 2006 in Somers Point, N.J. … daughter of Roberta and Geoff Campbell … has a twin sister, Emerson … competed in soccer, lacrosse, and winter track & field at Northern Highlands Regional High School … Second Team All-State selection in soccer … nominated for North Jersey Player of the Year … Top-20 player in North 1 group … first team all-league, all-county, and All-North Jersey honoree … led team to sectional titles as a junior and senior … first team all-league and second team all-county selection in lacrosse … helped the lax team to a runner-up finish at sectionals … as a sophomore was part of a 4×400 relay that finished second at the state championship meet … played club soccer for Match Fit Academy ECNL and Morris Elite SC USL W League.

Kelly Cook Says: “Audrey is a great 1v1 defender with a tremendous work rate. She has the ability to play centrally or on the wing. She reads the game very well and has the pace to match up with fast strikers.”

Emma Gavin
Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames H.S./Scorpions ECNL

Personal/High School: Born Aug. 23, 2007 in Quincy, Mass. … parents are Jennifer and James Gavin … has a younger brother, Bailey … captained the soccer team at Oliver Ames High School … three-time Hockomock League All-Star … EMass First Team selection in 2024 and Second Team in 2023 … 2024 Hockomock First Team … part of teams that won three straight league titles from 2021-23 … 2023 squad made the MIAA state final … recorded 38 goals, 11 assists in high school career, including 15 goals as a senior … played club soccer with Scorpions ECNL and was a 2024 ECNL New England All-Conference Second Team selection.

Kelly Cook Says: “Emma is a center back who could also play as the holding center midfielder for us. She has good size at 5’10” and is strong in the air. She brings athleticism and another physical presence to our back line.”

Dani Howard
Freehold, N.J./Freehold Township H.S./Cedar Stars Academy

Personal/High School: Born March 8, 2007 … parents are Carl Howard and Stacey Baker … competed in soccer and track at Freehold Township High School, where she was high school and club teammates with future Bucknell classmate Gaby Parker … four-year varsity starter in soccer, playing midfield, forward, and outside back … team captain as a senior … United Soccer Coaches All-East Region selection … NJGSCA Top 20 in State and Central Region … earned All-Division, All-Conference, All-Group, and All-County honors … helped her team to back-to-back state championships, along with three sectional titles, three Shore Conference titles, and two division titles … team was undefeated in New Jersey and ranked No. 1 in the state in 2022 … ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in 2023 … named standout performer in 2022 state final victory … team Offensive MVP and Scholar Athlete awards in 2024 …  selected for Shore Conference Senior All Star game … ranked fourth all-time in assists in school history … in track, was a Monmouth County and New Jersey State Sectional Top-15 freshman in the 400 and 800 meters … medaled in the distance medley relay in 2022 … Freehold Township High School’s NJSIAA Scholar Athlete award winner for the class of 2025 … played club soccer for Cedar Stars Academy Monmouth GA … invited to US Youth National Team ID Center in 2022 … selected for GA Regional Talent ID in 2021-24 … GA Northeast Conference Champions in 2023 … played in GA champions Cup 2021-22 … GA Advisory Panel Club Representative … USL W League player since 2024 … 3 year ODP Player … played internationally for Westchester United FC in the Viareggio Cup in Italy, playing top clubs including AC Milan … ambassador for All In Athletes … member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and Science League … Science academic student of the month 2025 and English academic student of the month 2023 … high honor roll every marking period of high school

Kelly Cook Says: “Dani is a creative attacking central midfielder with great vision and an innate feel for the game tactically. She is a great passer who can create for others and score goals on her own. Most importantly, she just loves the game. She watches soccer all the time and has a creative flair to her game.”

Elie Kotler
Glencoe, Ill./New Trier H.S./Chicago FC United

Personal/High School: Born May 18, 2007 in Chicago … daughter of Dana and Lee Kotler … has an older sister, Mia … part of the class of 2025 at New Trier High School … played year-round club soccer with Chicago FC United 2007 GA, where she was team captain … selected for Mid-America talent ID in 2024 … led the team to an undefeated season and four straight GA playoff appearances, including a quarterfinal berth in 2022 … team qualified for GA Champions Cup in 2023 … represented her club on the Girls Academy advisory board during the 2023-24 season.

Kelly Cook Says: “Elie is a holding central midfielder who is very vocal and provides a strong presence on the field. She has good passing range and good vision, which helps her move the ball effectively in the midfield.”

Gaby Parker
Howell, N.J./Freehold Township High School/Cedar Stars Academy

Personal/High School: Born Apr. 26, 2007 in Long Island City, N.Y. … daughter of Sandra Weber and Dwayne Parker … has two younger brothers, Cayden and Jayson … team captain and four-year varsity starter at Freehold Township High School … was high school and club teammates with fellow Bucknell recruit Dani Howard … broke the school’s season (26) and career (73) goal-scoring records on the way to United Soccer Coaches All-America honors as a senior … First Team All-State selection and Central Jersey Player of the Year as a senior … named Top-20 player in New Jersey … also a three-time state sectional honoree … four-time first team all-division, two-time First Team All-Shore Conference … helped her team to back-to-back state championships, along with three sectional titles, there Shore Conference titles, and two division titles … team was undefeated in New Jersey and ranked No. 1 in the state in 2022 … ranked as high as No. 3 nationally in 2023 … played club soccer with Cedar Stars Academy … helped team to Northeast Conference GA title … invited to GA Northeast Talent ID camp … also played high school basketball and was a four-year starter with 1,209 career points … named Division Player of the Year as a senior and was a three-time first team all-division selection.

Kelly Cook Says: “Gaby is an explosive forward who loves to get in behind. She can score in a variety of ways and has a great work rate. She just has a nose for the goal and is extremely dangerous in the 18 on services and on the dribble.”

Audra Toth
Westfield, N.J./Westfield H.S./FC Copa ECNL

Personal/High School: Born Oct. 22, 2006 … parents are Margaret and Stephen Toth … has an older brother, Jake … mother played tennis at Rochester … captained the soccer team at Westfield High School … first team all-state selection as a senior and honorable mention as a junior … earned multiple first team all-county and all-division citations … bookended her career with Group 4 state championships as a freshman and a senior … helped her team to four conference championships, three county titles, three sectional titles … played center back up until senior year, when she moved to forward and led the team with 23 goals and 9 assists … played club soccer with FC Copa ECNL … 2024 All-Regional League Northeast First Team selection … team took first place at the 2024 New Jersey ECNL RL … 2021 US Club National finalist … 2022 USYS national finalist … 2023 USYS E64 national champion.

Kelly Cook Says: “Audra is a physical, aggressive player with good leadership ability. She is also a versatile player who we could see playing in the midfield or on the back line. She’s very athletic and is strong in the air.”

Kenice Wilson
Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connetquot H.S./LI Slammers

Personal/High School: Born Apr. 26, 2007 in Brooklyn, N.Y. … parents are Nicola and Mark Wilson … has two younger sisters, Karina and Kezia … played on the soccer team at Connetquot High School … all-county and two-time all-league selection … named to the Newsday Top 100 Girls Soccer Players on Long Island list … earned team Rookie of the Year honors as a ninth-grader and Comeback Player of the Year honors as a senior after returning from a knee injury … helped team to 2022 Section IX league championship … recorded 23 goals, 10 assists in high school career, with a high of 10 goals, 5 assists as a junior … also helped the Long Island Slammers to two club league championships … scored 42 goals for her club team in the Spring 2022-Spring 2025 seasons.

Kelly Cook Says: “Kenice is a fast, athletic player who has the ability to play with her back to goal or out in the wide areas. She can play up top or potentially at outside back, and she brings plenty of versatility, size, and speed.”