By Warren Kozireski —
Kiara Zanon as of this writing has played only 42 collegiate games for Penn State University, but already has set multiple team records and accomplishments.
The Fairport native currently stands tied for ninth in the nation and leads the College Hockey America conference in assists and is 19th in points this season through 23 games, but that doesn’t begin to reflect the impact the 5’5” center has had on the Nittany Lions.
After last season where she tallied 30 points in a shortened 21 game season, Zanon became Penn State’s first-ever national award honoree as AHCA National Rookie of the Year, was the first All-America honoree in program history, was named the Nittany Lions’ first-ever CHA Player of the Year winner and was one of two Nittany Lions to be named CHA Rookie of the Year.
After last season, she was the only freshman among the top-ten finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. It is given by The USA Hockey Foundation to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey.
“Obviously it’s really special and means a lot, but I wouldn’t be in that position without my team and without my family,” Zanon said in mid-January. “But it’s a team and I’m more focused on the team right now and trying to get in a good position for the end of the year.”
Fast-forward to this season and Zanon has already set the program record with ten multi-point games this season…and counting, a record she set last season.
But, as with most great players, she is not satisfied.
“We have so much more to give and we’re not doing that right now; we’re not playing to the potential we have as a team and we have a lot of work to do going forward.
“I’m not satisfied at all. I have good moments, but it’s not good enough and I have to do more to help the team.”
Zanon committed to Penn State during the summer after her ninth-grade year while she was playing for the Selects Academy at Bishop Kearney in Rochester for three campaigns.
The 19-year-old has also gained significant international experience scoring the golden goal in overtime to win gold medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship for USA Hockey in Slovakia, winning a silver medal at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship in Japan and also with the 2018 U18 Select Team, the 2018 Women’s National Festival roster and the 2018 Select 70 Camp roster.
In between, she led the PWHL in scoring with 64 points on 33 goals and 31 assists in 35 games playing with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves in 2019-20 and was All-USA Girls High School Hockey Player of the Year Top 5 finalist and Second Team forward.
But Zanon, whose father Steve played collegiate hockey at Geneseo for three years in the late 80’s-early 90’s, has even higher aspirations in college hockey and Team USA.
“It’s an Olympic year, so they are focusing on that, but hopefully next year I can get to some more camps and go from there.”
The ultimate goal? “Olympics and National Team, but any little stepping stone is a good stepping stone, but that’s the long-term goal.”
(Penn State Women’s Hockey Photo)
