UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa - The abundance of success this season for freshman phenom Charlie Cerrato has given Penn State the competitive edge it needed to prevail in the ‘Monster Conference’ of collegiate hockey.
Following his triumphant performance with the United States National Team Development Program, and most recent success with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, Cerrato was eager to continue his development against the nations toughest talent in the Big Ten.
Cerrato joined the Nittany Lions on the heels of a remarkable season with the Phantoms, where he led the entire USHL in assists, and sat second on the team in goals (12) and total points (50).
Now close to the conclusion of his rookie season, he leads the Nittany Lions in faceoff wins, and sits second in goals (11) and total points (22), second to sophomore Aiden Fink, a Hobey Baker award nominee.
Despite beginning his career with the Nittany Lions at just 19 years old, Cerrato has received overwhelming praise for being a fierce competitor, a well-rounded player, and possessing an incredible hockey IQ. Despite previous successes, the first-year knew an abundance of work was to be done to carry on that success in the NCAA.
“The role that he’s playing with this team, he’s earned every bit of it, he wasn’t given anything” said coach Guy Gadowsky. “He’s killing penalties, dominating the faceoff circle, he’s put himself in a position to play with very offensive players because he’s been so effective in making plays, and finishing them as well. His role is 100% attributed to what he’s earned.”
In his inaugural season of collegiate hockey, the freshman phenom has taken the Big Ten by storm for his multitude of contributions to the Nittany Lions’ success.
For a Penn State team that struggled immensely with possession last season, Cerrato’s contributions on the faceoff dot have been a catalyst to the Blue and White’s success on the season. Now leading the nation in faceoff win percentage at .560, this Penn State team has created an improved landscape for offensive production, Charlie Cerrato at the helm with 246 of those faceoff wins alone.
“Playing in the Big Ten, you just want to go out there, compete, and win, it doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman or a fifth year,” says Cerrato. “Whether that’s hitting somebody, blocking a shot or scoring a goal, you just want to win more than anything. So ‘whatever it takes’ has been my mentality all year.”
Strategically paired alongside sophomore Matt DiMarsico and freshman J.J. Wiebusch, Cerrato has helped generate immense production on the scoresheet in the latter half of the season.
“The thing I love most about Charlie is that he’s just such a competitive kid; whether that’s in the weight room, on the dot, in practice, or even just playing ping pong. When guys take the ice with him, he raises everybody’s competitiveness, and that’s largely why his line is so successful,” says Gadowsky.
Despite his notable contributions on the stat sheet, Cerrato’s tenacity on the ice is what makes him stand out against his competition. Recognized for his competitive nature and intricate skillset, he has become an elite playmaker all across the ice.
“We call him a bowling ball because of the way he plays, he’s a big body and a physical guy. He’s someone we love to share the ice with because he’s going to finish up a check and follow through with a play every single time, he’s a tough, reliable guy to play with,” says junior defenseman Carter Schade.
Missing just two games for minor injury protocol, both coaching staff and teammates alike have acknowledged his prevalence on the ice as one that is irreplaceable. From killing penalties, shutting down the rush, to making swift puck movements to set himself and his teammates up for success, Cerrato is a unique and impactful player that has been a massive advantage to their game this season.
“If we’ve learned anything this season, it's that it’s anyone's game in this league. So I’m going to keep playing my hardest and do what I can do to help the team at whatever cost, because the tanks are not empty yet,” exclaimed Cerrato.
The Blue and White return to play against the Wisconsin Badgers this weekend, puck drop is slated for 8 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 7:00 game to follow on Saturday.