UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For one final time Saturday, Penn State senior Liam Folkes will take the ice at Pegula Ice Arena in a regular season game. The accomplished forward hopes his season extends well beyond this weekend.
Heading into this weekend, Folkes has tallied 48 goals in his Penn State career and just eclipsed the 100-point plateau last weekend against Wisconsin. He continued his dominance against the Badgers with two goals last Friday night.
Some of Folkes' biggest career goals have come against Wisconsin. The first coming back in his freshman year, when he won the Big Ten Tournament for Penn State with a breakaway goal against the Badgers at Joe Louis Arena. More recently his overtime game-winner propelled the Nittany Lions over the Badgers in game three of the Big Ten quarterfinals last March at Pegula Ice Arena.
But it hasn't been the on-ice experience that has stood out to Folkes. Rather it was everything that has happened off the ice that he will remember most of his time at Penn State.
"Everyone is such a good guy and I have good personal relationships with everybody," Folkes said. "It's been a blast living with (Brandon) Biro, (Nate) Sucese and (Peyton) Jones the last four years. I think I'll cherish the relationships I have made more than the on-ice play."
Folkes is a part of a much larger senior class that will be recognized Saturday night. Ten seniors in total will be skating in their final Penn State games in the next month or two.
Penn State head coach Guy Gadowsky cites this class as one that put the program on the map as a national power. The Nittany Lions have been a Division I hockey program for less than 10 years, but Penn State has taken the next steps toward success over the past four years.
"It's hard not to stand out when you come in as freshman and win the Big Ten and set us on a course with expectations," Gadowsky said. "I think it has been an exceptional, gratifying four years with them."
While some freshmen take time to settle in at Penn State, Folkes was one of the guys who came in on day one and made an impact. Gadowsky says that Folkes 200-foot game is "night and day" from when he first stepped on campus, and that shows the work ethic of the Scarborough, Ontario native.
He has also earned the name "Mr. Clutch" by his teammates and coaches, and perhaps there will be some more clutch moments from Folkes in the Big Ten Tournament, and perhaps the NCAA Tournament. While Folkes has the clutch gene, it has been so much more that has earned the respect of his teammates.
"We didn't give him the alternate captain, his peers did," Gadowsky said. "He's been loved by the guys since day one."
When Folkes looks back at his time at Penn State, he reflects on an incredible four years with the Nittany Lions. He didn't expect to be playing at Penn State after his time with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canadian Hockey League. He now looks back and is extremely appreciative of everything the school has given him.
"Penn State is amazing and has everything anyone could ever want for hockey, education and friendships," Folkes said.
The hardest part of all might be Saturday night when he is honored in front of the Penn State fans at Pegula. After four incredible years, it is never easy to say goodbye to a program that has given him so much.
Folkes' parents have had a major impact on the person and player he is today. It will be difficult for him to remain composed when talking about them Saturday.
"I can't look at my parents when I'm speaking about them because I probably will cry," Folkes said. "I think the emotions will be focused on the game and more of us celebrating our last game in Pegula."
Saturday night is the final regular season game Folkes and the seniors will play at Pegula, but the hope is a strong weekend will put Penn State back on its home ice for the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. From there, the Nittany Lions hope they have one last deep tournament run in them. With Folkes helping lead the way, that seems entirely possible.
