Olczyk Re-Elected Captain; Jensen, Glen Alternates

David Glen will add a letter to his jersey for the coming season

For the second straight year, Tommy Olczyk will captain the Nittany Lion men, and Nate Jensen will serve as one of the alternates (the correct term, not "assistant"). The leadership roles were chosen through a team vote, so I suppose the real news would be if they weren't re-elected.

Also determined by that vote: forward David Glen, he of the unstoppable motor complimented with a surprising amount of offensive ability, will be the second alternate captain, replacing the graduating George Saad.

By being named captain for a second time, Olczyk joins a rather distinguished list, as only Art Gladstone, Roy Scott, Bill Proudman, Greg Smith, Lynn Sipe, John Ioia, C.J. Patrick, Scott Curry and Keith Jordan have worn the C for multiple seasons in the history of Penn State hockey. Of that group, only four-year captain Proudman held the role for more than a pair of seasons, company Olczyk will have a chance to join in 2014-2015.

Here's the team's release:

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Forward Tommy Olczyk (Long Grove, Ill.) has been named captain for the 2013-14 Penn State men's hockey team, while defenseman Nate Jensen (Shorewood, Minn.) and forward David Glen (Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.) have been tabbed assistant captains, head coach Guy Gadowsky announced Thursday. The trio was selected through a team vote.

"Entering our first year in the Big Ten Hockey Conference, we will need great leadership to expedite the learning process in order to compete with some of the most storied programs in college hockey. The three captains, who were elected by the team, are excellent choices for that challenge," Gadowsky said. "Tommy, Nate and David exhibit high levels of work ethic and commitment both on and off the ice and a genuine caring for Penn State University, the Athletics Department and our hockey program. The coaching staff agrees fully with the team's choices."

A two-time captain, Olczyk appeared in 26 games during the Nittany Lions' inaugural NCAA Division I season. The Long Grove, Ill., native collected three goals and an assist and ranked fourth on the squad with 69 shots. The forward was one of three Nittany Lions to net a shorthanded goal, a feat he accomplished against Michigan State Jan. 25.

A Shorewood, Minn., native, Jensen will serve as an assistant captain for the second straight season. The blueliner, who skated in 22 games, tied for seventh on the team in points (9) and finished eighth in assists (7). Jensen collected two three-game point-scoring streaks during the season and notched an assist on the program's first goal at the NCAA Division I level.

One of four Nittany Lions to appear in all 27 games, Glen tied for third among all NCAA rookies in goals (16) and led Penn State in plus/minus (plus-9), shots (117) and faceoff percentage (.584). The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native also ranked second on the team in points (25) and was fourth in assists (9), while adding two power-play and game-winning goals.

In 2012-13, Glen firmly established himself in the Penn State record books after securing many program firsts. The forward recorded the program's first hat trick, game-winning goal, multi-goal game, multi-point game and overtime goal. Glen's first game-winning marker and overtime tally came on the same shot as he sent the Nittany Lions to their first NCAA victory with a 4-3 triumph against AIC Oct. 13.