In an age of hockey where defensemen are becoming increasingly flashy and offensive, it is rare to find a strictly defensive defenseman, but it is even rarer to find a player who thrives in that situation and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Paul DeNaples, a freshman, has gone from a player who didn’t know if he would be in the starting lineup this season to a player who is leading the nation in plus-minus and is a crucial part to Penn State’s blue line this season.
“Everyone plays their role on the team and every team needs a good defensive guy and that’s my job,” DeNaples said.