Media Notebook: Penn State Embraces New Defensive System

Photo by Heather WeikelPenn State made it a point over the offseason to redefine its defensive identity. In years prior, the Nittany Lions were rather conservative in their approach, keeping a safe distance between themselves and the opposing puck carrier.

That style led to many busy nights for Peyton Jones and a disappointing level of success compared to where the Nittany Lions could have been.

This season, Guy Gadowsky implored his players to be aggressive on the puck carrier. “Gap control” — that space between the defender and the puck carrier — was a key term in defining that defensive identity.

Though it has been hit or miss whether that system would be successfully executed, there has…