2015-16 NEWCOMERS
GOPSUSPORTS.COM
MATT MENDELSON
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Freshman • F • 5-10 • 170 • Pittsburgh, Pa. • Bloomington Thunder (USHL)
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I can’t imagine anything better than playing in the Big Ten at Pegula Ice Arena. The great coaching staff and the top notch academics at Penn State made the decision an easy one. It’s all the more special being a fourth generation Nittany Lion as well. MATT MENDELSON
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BEFORE PENN STATE
Played two-plus years in the USHL for the Muskegon Lumberjacks (2012-14) and Bloomington Thunder (2014-15), playing 119 total games ... Tallied 30 goals and 39 assists ... In first full season in the USHL, tallied 14 goals, 15 assists in 51 appearances for Muskegon (2013-14), serving as alternate captain ... Served as alternate captain for expansion Bloomington team in 2014-15, scoring 14 goals and 23 assists in 51 games as the team’s offensive player of the year ... Earned the USHL’s 2014-15 Curt Hammer Award, which is presented to a player who distinguishes himself both on and off the ice by demonstrating outstanding performance skills, pride and determination ... Joined teammate Tommy Olczyk as a Curt Hammer Award honoree ... Played the beginning of 2012-13 wtih the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite U18 and the 2011-12 season with the Pittsburgh Hornets U16 squad.
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MEET THE NITTANY LIONS
PERSONAL
Born May 14, 1995 in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Jim and Elissa Mendelson ... Has an older brother, Sam, and an older sister, Cara, who played for the Penn State women’s team (2012-14) ... Is a fourth generation Penn Stater, joining his great grandfather Samuel Kranich ‘21, grandfather Brett Kranich ‘49, mother Elissa ‘80 and sister, Cara ‘15 ... Anticipates a major in entrepreneurship.
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Matt is a hard working player who can be used in all situations. He is a person of great character who won the Curt Hammer Award, while serving as alternate captain for the Bloomington Thunder. GUY GADOWSKY
2015-16 PENN STATE HOCKEY
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