Finland may not have been so kind for American hockey fans in the Bronze Medal game in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but it appears the Scandinavian country will be kind to Penn State in the coming years.

Erik Autio of Finland has reportedly committed to Penn State for the 2014-15 season according to several web sites, including College Hockey Inc. Autio is a 5-foot-10 defenseman who plays for the Espoo Blues Under-20 team in Espoo, Finland.

Autio will be the first non-North American to suit up for Penn State in its two-year Division I history. He's had no serious playing time in North America throughout his career.

Currently, Penn State has two commitments in the coming years from Denis Smirnov and Nikita Palvychev, who are both Russian-born but currently playing in the United States.

Also in Autio's class will be Scott Conway, who grew up in England, but currently plays alongside Smirnov for the United States Hockey League's Indiana Ice.

Autio becomes the fourth defensemen in the 2014-15 class, joining Matt Mendelson, Kevin Kerr and Bo Pellah.

Autio has been in the Espoo Blues junior ranks since the 2010-11 season. He's also had some time playing for the Finnish national team at various youth levels, including representing the nation in the Under-18 World Junior Championships in 2012-13. There, he helped guide the Fins to a bronze medal.