Patrick Koudys

Penn State's Patrick Koudys defends against Army during the third period of the first game at Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena. Joe Hermitt, PennLive.com

(JOE HERMITT)

ARLINGTON, Va. – Patrick Koudys has enjoyed a memorable college experience on the ground floor of Penn State's nascent Division I program.

Patrick Koudys

Ironically, when the defenseman makes the transition to pro hockey, it may involve only a relatively short jaunt from State College to Hershey.

Koudys, who has a season to go at Penn State, looms as a possibility to sign with the Washington Capitals and join the Hershey Bears on a tryout deal when his 2014-15 NCAA campaign ends.

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It would be unbelievable," Koudys said. "It's right down the road. Washington has been great to me. I've got nothing but great things to say about them. It's an unbelievable organization. But like I said, next year it's all about Penn State and we'll go from there."

Koudys, a 2011 Washington fifth-round draft pick (147th overall), is participating in Caps development camp for the fourth time this week at Kettler Capitals Iceplex.

Penn State teammate Zach Saar , an undrafted invitee, also is participating. The two accentuate the blue and white portion of Washington's red, white and blue team color motif.

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I thought it would be a great place to go and have a good experience, especially since Pat would be coming here, as well," Saar said. "I'm very lucky to be here, having a great time so far."

Koudys has been named Penn State's captain for 2014-15.

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It was certainly a huge honor for me," Koudys said. "We've got a great group of guys back there. I'm excited to be here for a week and then get back and start working with those guys."

The 2013-14 season was Happy Valley historic for Penn State hockey. State-of-the-art Pegula Ice Arena opened and the Nittany Lions played their inaugural Big Ten season , going 3-16-1 in the conference and 8-26-2 overall amid expected growing pains against established programs.

Redshirt junior Koudys, 21, a native of Smithville, Ontario, produced 2-6-8 in 36 games.

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It was unbelievable to be able to play in Pegula Ice Arena in the Big Ten," Koudys said. "It's something we'll remember forever. For me personally, I was trying to just take it all in.

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The team did pretty well. I think next year we've got almost all the guys back, so we're really excited to get back in there. I think we're going to have a really good team and have a really good year coming up."

Zach Saar

Saar, 21, a hulking 6-5, 236-pound native of Richland, Michigan, whose father, Brad, was a linebacker on Penn State's 1982 national championship football team, produced 5-6-11 in 33 games as a freshman.

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We got a lot better during the year," Saar said, "and we're hoping to pick up where we left off from last year."

Saar heartily endorsed the selection of Koudys as captain.

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I think he's a great, great guy in person," Saar said. "He is hands down the hardest worker on the team and he's always showing up with a great attitude and stuff.

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Last year, he was kind of wearing the invisible letter, so I'm obviously really happy to see him get the credit he deserves this year and wear the C."

The 6-3, 198-pound Koudys has size, snarl and instincts. His skating and foot speed will have to continue to develop for a prospective future pro ascent.

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I remember him from two summers ago," said Bears head coach Troy Mann, back with the organization after a season in the ECHL. "A big guy who's very coachable. It seems like his skating has come a long way, too, as well over the last 24 months.

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Watching him out there [Monday], he looks like he's improved in that area."

Said Koudys: "That's probably my biggest knock as a player has probably been that. I feel like I've really been focusing on that. It's one thing I try to work on day in and day out. To hear that they are seeing some improvement is obviously a great thing. Just got to keep working on it and, hopefully, make it to the big show."

th round (252nd overall) in 1982. The centerman played in the AHL for the Springfield Indians from 1984-86. Koudys' father, Jim , was drafted by the New York Islanders in the 12round (252overall) in 1982. The centerman played in the AHL for the Springfield Indians from 1984-86.

The Caps drafted Koudys out of RPI, where he played from 2010-12. He landed at Penn State after playing 2012-13 in the USHL for Muskegon, where Saar also was a teammate.

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I have no regrets going to RPI at all, but going to Penn State was probably the best thing I've ever done," Koudys said. "Great experience. I've developed so much as a player, and it's just an unbelievable opportunity for me to be able to play there.

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Go back to that and try to win a Big Ten championship and play some good hockey and go from there."

NOTEBOOK

Winger Brandon Segal, who ranked second in scoring for Hershey in 2013-14 (17-27-44), signed with Medvescak Zagreb in the KHL