TAYLOR HOLSTROM
Penn State
Jr. | F | Yorba Linda, Calif.

Taylor Holstrom

Key Statistics: One of four players on the Penn State roster with previous Division I experience, Holstrom was 2010-11 Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Year after scoring nine goals and 24 assists in 36 games with Mercyhurst. Last season as a member of the Nittany Lions’ club team, he scored 37 points in 26 games.

What He Does: Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky says Holstrom excels at making something out of nothing on offense. More to the point, he’s the kind of player who can be in what looks like a dead-end situation and somehow create a scoring opportunities. And even though he’s on the smallish side at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, Holstrom is not afraid to go into the dirty areas to get the puck. Gadowsky raved about Holstrom’s commitment to conditioning, saying his competitive nature, work ethic, and pride in a job well done are unparalleled.

The Bigger Picture: Though they’re about to embark on their first season of varsity hockey, the Nittany Lions don’t suffer from a lack of experience—fifteen players return from a year ago, when Gadowsky and Co. started to build the foundation for Penn State varsity hockey. As one of the few players who’ve previously played D-I hockey, Holstrom will most likely be thrust into a leadership role. Based on his work to date, he’ll also be expected to fuel the Nittany Lions’ attack.

Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky on Holstrom: “Some guys are goal scorers, some guys are distributors—he’s got the ability to do both. When the defense has you covered well, he finds a way around it.”