Head coach Guy Gadowsky is already comparing one of his freshmen to one of the most decorated forwards in program history.
After Sunday’s exhibition game, in which Denis Smirnov scored two goals, Gadowsky said he noticed the freshman’s high hockey IQ right away, liking it to that of former Penn State forward Casey Bailey (AHL).
“Smirnov has an incredibly high IQ and has tremendous vision,” Gadowsky said.
Originally from Moscow, Smirnov played his last two seasons for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League, scoring 47 goals with 54 assists.