Penn State Men’s Hockey: Pagliero Hired to Fill Vacant Assistant Role

Penn State men’s hockey has hired UMass-Lowell assistant coach Juliano Pagliero to fill the same role left by longtime and now former assistant Matt Lindsay. Penn State announced the hire on Wednesday evening.

“Juliano is a great fit for our program. He has a tremendous reputation around the hockey world and has worked with some excellent programs under excellent coaches,” Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said in a press release. “We are thrilled to welcome Pags to Hockey Valley.”

Lindsay- who had been an assistant at Penn State for the duration of the program’s existence – left the program for UMass earlier this offseason.

Pagliero joined UMass-Lowell following the 2018 season after three years with Colgate University. While at Colgate, the team’s 2.20 GAA ranked 11th in the nation in 2017-18 and the Raiders’ penatly kill was ninth best with an 84.6% efficiency. Goaltender Colton Point led the nation with a .944 save percentage, the ninth-best mark in NCAA history, and was second in the country with a 1.74 goals-against average during his sophomore season in 2017-18.

With UMass-Lowell, Pagliero helped goaltender Tyler Wall who would break several River Hawk records including career victories which now stands at 58. During the 2019-20 season as the senior was second in Hockey East and ninth in the nation with a .931 save percentage while his 2.10 goals-against average was good for fourth in the conference and 18th nationally.

The hire is a noteworthy and likely intentional shift in focus for Guy Gadowsky who up until now had not had an assistant on staff with an overly extensive background coaching goaltenders. While both current assistant Keith Fisher and Lindsay had worked with Penn State goaltenders – neither boast a particularly robust goaltender coaching resume.

Between the pipes Penn State has generally had success in recent years in goal with both Peyton Jones and Eamon McAdam, but both had up-and-down careers while in State College. While some of that is a product of many variables, including the defensive acumen in front of them, Pagliero brings at least of more singularly focused skillset to the table in a game often decided by the last line of defense.

“I am honored to be given this opportunity to join the staff at Penn State. I want to thank Coach Gadowsky for believing in me,” commented Pagliero. “I am excited to work with him and the entire staff in Hockey Valley and continue to build on the success the program has already had.”

Penn State returns Oskar Autio and Liam Souliere in net this upcoming season with Autio the probable opening night starter.