Penn State men’s hockey named Dane Dowiak as its team captain for the 2025-26 season, with Jared Crespo serving as an alternate, the team announced Tuesday.

Dowiak, a junior forward, became the 12th Nittany Lion captain in program history, replacing Simon Mack. He becomes the first forward to become captain in five seasons, the past leaders all being defenseman.

Dowiak recorded 20 points last season, earning multiple honors throughout the year, including Academic All-Big Ten Honors, along with being named the Allentown Regional Most Outstanding Player. The junior was also named to the Allentown Regional All-Tournament Team.

“I’m incredibly honored to be named captain of this team. I’ve had the privilege of learning from so many great leaders over the years, and I’m thankful for the example they set,” Dowiak said in a press release.  “I wouldn’t be in this position without the complete support of my teammates, along with the coaches and our entire staff who present us with opportunities to succeed every day.”

Crespo is a senior defenseman who has played the most games on the roster with 104 games under his belt. He had seven points last season in the historic run to the Frozen Four. The North Carolina native was also named an Academic All-Big Ten honoree last season.

The Nittany Lions open their season in under two weeks, taking on Arizona State at 9 p.m. on Friday, October 3, in Arizona.

About the Author

Alex Smith

Alex is a fourth-year Print and Digital Journalism student from Sarasota, Florida. Alex is a huge Tampa Bay sports fan and even has a cat named Kucherov. You can contact her at afs6864@psu.edu.

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