The Pittsburgh Penguins Elite organization is proud to congratulate Tanner Palocsik on being named the NCDC Defenseman of the Year. Currently playing for the New Jersey Hitmen, Palocsik quickly established himself as an elite player from his start in the 2017-2018 season. During his entry season, Palocsik didn’t miss a beat from his time with Pens Elite. He finished out the season with a total of 33 points and helped take his team to a valiant playoff push. But where Palocsik’s game truly took off, was during the 2018-2019 season. During this season, Palocsik scored a staggering 55 points, earning him the awards: Most points by a defenseman, most assists by a defenseman, and most assists of any player in the league. These accolades made him the clear choice for the NCDC Defenseman of the Year Award. Before his time with the Hitmen, Palocsik spent several successful seasons with the Pens Elite organization. Starting off as a Bantam, Palocsik began to find his game as a successful defenseman. As he moved through the program, Palocsik’s consistency and simplicity made him a formidable force for opposing teams. However, Palocsik’s effort truly paid off during his 2015-2016 season, as he and the rest of the U18 team were awarded the National Championship shutting out Culver Academy 3-0. Tanner is looking forward to many more years playing as he has committed to playing for Dartmouth in the upcoming season. Once again, we would like to congratulate Tanner on his success with both Pens Elite and the New Jersey Hitmen!