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UNIVERSITY PARK - Head coach Guy Gadowsky and the Penn State men's ice hockey team announced their captains for the 2026-27 season earlier this week. Senior forwards Dane Dowiak (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Reese Laubach (San Jose, Calif.) will serve as captains this winter in Hockey Valley.
Dowiak was voted captain last season while Laubach was added as an alternate at the halfway point. Dowiak becomes just the third Nittany Lion all-time to don the 'C' for multiple seasons joining Tommy Olczyk (2012-14) and Paul DeNaples (2021-23). Laubach becomes the 13th different Nittany Lion to wear the captain's patch.
Dowiak saw his 2025-26 campaign cut short due to injury after having a career year as a sophomore in 2024-25 when he posted career-high totals across the board with 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points finishing the year sixth on the team in goals and eighth in points. Dowiak, the team's top centerman, has been a monster at the dot the past two seasons and finished last year winning 54 percent of his draws while adding 18 points on nine goals and nine assists in 27 games including his first career hat-trick in a 7-2 win at Wisconsin in January.
The senior is just two games shy of 100 for his career and one point shy of 50.
"I'm grateful to have the opportunity to lead this group and play for this program every day," mentioned Dowiak. "After my season was cut short last year due to injury, I'm incredibly eager and excited to give everything I have to this team to help push us toward our ultimate goal of winning a national championship."
Laubach finished fifth on the team in scoring a year ago with 28 points on 12 goals and 16 assists and has been one of the Nittany Lions most productive forwards during his three years in Hockey Valley. Laubach had a career year as a sophomore in 2024-25 registering 30 points on 15 goals and 15 assists.
The San Jose, California native enters his senior season just outside the top-10 all-time at Penn State in scoring with 80 points and goals with 37 in 107 career games played.
"It's an honor to be selected as a captain for my senior season in Hockey Valley. I appreciate the trust that my teammates and coaches have shown in me by providing me the opportunity to lead this program," commented Laubach. "It's not something I take lightly, and I will do everything possible to be the best leader I can be for this team, both on and off the ice. I'm excited for the year with this group, and can't wait to get playing soon!"
The Nittany Lions open their season on the road at the 2026 Ice Breaker Tournament in Connecticut with a game against UConn in Storrs on October 9 at 7 p.m.