Last weekend, in a two-game series against the University of Minnesota, Aiden Fink scored just one assist. It was an unusually quiet stretch for the Penn State rookie, who’s scored nine goals and 22 points in 17 games this year.
In June, Fink was selected 218th overall by the Nashville Predators at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, earning the honor of being David Poile’s last-ever pick. Five months later, he was named the NCAA November Rookie of the Month by the Hockey Commissioners Association. But Fink is unfazed by his whirlwind year.
“It’s the first semester of college for me, so I’m definitely liking things,” said Fink. “When I got called as David Poile’s last pick, I thought that was pretty cool. I definitely thought about it in the summer a lot, but once the season started, I kind of put it at the back of my mind and just focused on our year,” he added.
That focus has been clear since day one, and his Nittany Lions teammates are similarly dialed in. Penn State is 9-5-3 on the year, sitting at 17th in the latest USCHO poll, and Fink is quick to note the strengths of the group.
“We’ve gotten down in the first couple periods… we’ve given up leads and that stuff, but the positivity in the locker room… I know everyone has confidence in each other and what we can all do,” said the speedy forward.
Driving Penn State’s offense is their top line of Fink, Reese Laubach, and Matt DiMarsico. The Nashville Predators prospect, in particular, has scored in all but four of their games, notching a primary point on 55.6% of the even-strength goals he’s been on the ice for and carrying a 19.7% relative goals-for rate.
“Our chemistry is just really good,” Fink noted. “We didn’t know each other coming into the year, but we spend most minutes of the day with each other. I think we’ve developed a bond outside of hockey that has translated inside.” He continued: “We’re playing a real fast style of hockey. We know where each other are at all times.”
Fink’s game is generating a ton of buzz in the college hockey landscape. He’s leading the Nittany Lions in scoring, tenth among all NCAA skaters, and third among freshmen; most impressively, he’s just a few points behind Boston University star Macklin Celebrini, who’s expected to be picked first overall next summer.
When I asked him what it’s like to hear his name alongside first-round talents like Celebrini, Will Smith, and Gabe Perreault, Fink wouldn’t deny being proud: “Yeah, I mean, it’s obviously pretty cool. I’m liking the way I’ve been playing; I’m liking my hockey IQ, my shot, and that stuff right now.”
The Calgary native also noted what it’s like to have his coaching staff, who have entrusted him with top-six minutes and power-play and penalty kill time, behind him. “I’m honored to be in all those roles,” he said. “It’s just hard work that you have to do to earn the coach’s trust… It definitely feels good.”
Despite his individual success, Fink wouldn’t let me move on without doling out more credit: “It’s not just me, it’s my linemates too. They’re setting me up, and they’re putting me in positions where I can succeed.”
His hot start aside, Aiden Fink isn’t the type to rest easy. At 5’10” and 160 pounds, he’s at a disadvantage against many of his peers who are older and stronger. He touched on how it’s taken a few games to adjust to the strength and physicality of his opponents, and he noted the speed difference too. “You have to be faster to be good in this league… a lot faster.”
If there’s a flag in Fink’s game, it’s his skating. He’s a quick, energetic player but still lacks a high-end accelerating gear, and there have been improvements in his skating mechanics since last summer. But he still loses speed with some stride extensions that lack depth behind his body and inconsistent recoveries under center. Fink doesn’t disagree.
“I still need to work on my skating,” he admitted. “If I can get faster every day, that will definitely help me in the long run… That and working on face-offs.”
It’s too early to say whether Aiden Fink is another late-round steal or not, but it’s hard to disagree when he says he likes where his game is at right now. He’s smart at finding pockets of open ice around the net, he buzzes around the ice each shift, and he’s demonstrating that his puck control skills are translating to a higher level. Regardless of how the rest of this season goes, Barry Trotz must be happy with what he’s seen so far.
