Player Spotlight: Peyton Jones

Audio/Story posted November 1, 2019 in CommRadio, Sports by Jacob Cheris

No team can be successful without stellar goaltending. Senior goaltender Peyton Jones has been clutch in making timely saves when Penn State needed it most. In his four starts, Jones has only allowed seven goals and has a 1.75 goals against average, which puts him at 12th in the NCAA. Jones has been very quick going from post-to-post and has terrific rebound control. Entering the 2019-20 season, Jones holds the Penn State school record for both starts and games played (107). Numbers don’t matter to Jones, however. He is only focused on one goal.

“I have one job and that’s to stop the puck,” Jones said. “I can’t worry about what we are doing. When I watch video, if I see something that the defensemen are doing, I’ll say, ‘Hey, what about this?’”

Though his primary job is to keep the puck out of the back of the net, Jones’ voice can be heard from the stands of Pegula Ice Arena.

“During the play, I’m very vocal with them just to make sure we’re on the same page,” Jones said. “I say what I see. As I see stuff develop or if there is a play where I’m playing the puck and I wasn’t on the same page as the defensemen, I say, ‘Hey, what did you say?’”

That type of back-and-forth communication has made Jones’ job easier.

Hailing from Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Jones attributes his mentality to his father, who has stuck with him throughout his Penn State career.

“My Dad always said, “Take it one day at a time,’'” Jones said. “Don’t get too high, don’t get too low, and come to the rink, workout, and get better.”

Going into the weekend, Jones will face a fast and furious Wisconsin Badgers squad loaded with NHL prospects, but Jones will look to slow them down.

“I gotta worry about what I can control, and if I give up a goal Friday night and come to the rink Saturday night, I can’t change what happened Friday,” said Jones. “Now matter where you are, you just have to take it one day at a time.”

 

Jacob Cheris is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jacobcheris19@gmail.com.