Penn State hockey has added another promising forward to its roster, as Marco Mignosa officially committed to the Nittany Lions on Friday. The 2005-born standout brings a blend of scoring touch and tenacity that could make an immediate impact in Happy Valley.

Mignosa, a seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2025 NHL Draft, spent five seasons with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, where he tallied an impressive 116 goals and 173 assists across 303 career games. His 2025-26 campaign was particularly eye-catching, as he racked up 89 points in 65 regular-season games—ranking sixth among all OHL skaters—and added 17 points during a 10-game playoff run. While the jump to NCAA hockey presents new challenges, Mignosa's skill set suggests he has top-six potential at the collegiate level.

Listed at 172 pounds, the forward may face an adjustment period against older, bigger competition, but his quickness and hockey IQ should help him adapt. One area where he could shine immediately is on the penalty kill. Since the start of the 2024-25 season, no OHL player has scored more shorthanded goals than Mignosa's 12. That aligns perfectly with Penn State's aggressive approach to the penalty kill, which has ranked in the top 10 nationally for shorthanded goals each of the last two seasons. With Nic Chin-DeGraves transferring out, Mignosa has a clear path to join the PK unit alongside Dane Dowiak.

Mignosa is expected to join the Nittany Lions for the 2026-27 season. As of now, Penn State has 25 players on the roster, one shy of the 26-player maximum. The departure of Gavin McKenna to the NHL would free up a spot, but the team's most pressing need remains an eighth defenseman. While Ethan Weber and Caeden Herrington are already in the fold, adding one more left-handed defenseman would likely round out the 2026-27 roster.

For Penn State fans, Mignosa's commitment is another sign that the program continues to attract high-caliber talent ready to contribute in all phases of the game.