Learning From Legends: Lyndie Lobdell’s Steady Climb to PWHL Seattle

Lyndie Lobdell is spending the summer between chapters, chasing sunlight, and steady progress. She wrapped up her Penn State career as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leading scorer among defenders and has her eyes set on her first PWHL season with Seattle. 

“It’s been nice to just unwind,” Lobdell said. “Just prioritize training and really not have to focus on anything else except making myself better and getting myself ready to go for November.”

Lobdell grew up in Aurora, Il., where hockey shaped the rhythm of family life. Her dad, a former Western Michigan defenseman who walked on and earned a captaincy, became her first coach and biggest influence. “He’s been my ride or die through it all,” she said. “He helped push me to go to Penn State because I wanted to be part of the change there and make the team better.”

That decision defined her career. At Penn State, she evolved from an offensive-minded defender into one of the most reliable two-way players in the country. In her final season, she appeared in all 38 games, scored four goals, added 17 assists for 21 points, led the team in blocked shots, and finished with a +36 rating — a single-season program record for a defender. She left campus with 84 career points in 167 games, the most by any blue liner in Nittany Lions history.

“I was a very offensive defenseman,” she said. “Going into the league, I’m focusing now on being a lockdown defense, which is where I think my biggest strengths lie.” 

That balance defines her approach: she reads the ice patiently, picks her moments to join the rush, and makes her mark in the quieter, heavier work — clearing the slot, closing gaps, winning corners. “It’s just about picking the moments,” she said. “Not forcing things.”

Leadership followed her wherever she played. Lobdell wore the “A” at Penn State and treated every shift as a chance to set a tone. “When I’m out of breath, I’m still kicking the boards, giving everybody the biggest support I can,” she said. “You’re not just showing up for yourself, but for your team.”

Seattle drafted Lobdell in June 2025, bringing her to a roster that mixes veterans and rookies, many of them players she once idolized. “I’ve never been to Seattle,” she said. “When I got drafted, my dad said, ‘That’s one of the coolest places you could have ended up.’” 

She laughed when asked what she’s most curious about: “Weirdly, I like rain… and seafood. I’ve heard it’s great out there.”

When she talked about joining the team, she was clear about her plan going forward: “I’m going into it with two ears, one mouth,” she said. “I’m ready to listen…and learn from some of the greatest players in the world.” 

One of those players texted her after the draft — U.S. legend Hilary Knight. “That’s crazy,” Lobdell said. “She used to come around the rink when I played at the mission. I have pictures of myself with her when I was a little U12. We’re not short on legends on this team, that’s for sure.”

Lobdell said she loves the sport’s growing edge. “It’s getting more and more physical every year, and I love that,” she said. “I’m very physical in all aspects of the game…it’s my favorite thing.”

When she imagined the years ahead, her answer stayed grounded. “I’d like to be talked about as someone who busted their butt all the way through, continuously climbed up the ladder, and became a better player and teammate,” she said.

That mindset, the one her father modeled and her career reinforced, drives her now. Lobdell didn’t arrive in Seattle chasing attention. She came to work, to learn, and to grow. She left Penn State with records, but she carried something deeper — a habit of steady improvement and the patience to trust it.

This fall, when she steps onto the ice in a new uniform, she’ll bring the same qualities that carried her through college: composure, grit, and the quiet conviction that progress doesn’t need noise to be seen. Five years from now, fans may look back and say she became exactly what she hoped — a player who never stopped climbing.