A Penn State men’s hockey player has found a new home following the team’s loss to Michigan in the NCAA Tournament Allentown Regional final. 

Senior defenseman Kenny Johnson has signed a professional contract with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL for the 2023-24 season, according to the league’s official transactions page. The Nailers are a minor-league affiliate of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Johnson played a total of 40 games at Penn State. He was a fixture on the team during his junior season, appearing in 31 games and recording a single goal and four assists. Johnson was limited to two games this past season, with no goals or assists. The Michigan native has been with Penn State since 2019.

The ECHL is one of the NHL’s two officially recognized minor leagues, along with the American Hockey League (AHL). The ECHL’s 28 teams play a 72-game regular season from October until April, culminating in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

About the Author

Adam Babetski

Adam Babetski is a senior double majoring in broadcast journalism and medieval history and is one of Onward State's associate editors. He's from the only part of Virginia without tractors and southern accents, except Richmond (reportedly). You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBabetski for hot takes about sports. For serious inquiries, email aqb6023@psu.edu.

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