Yes, you read that right.
A seven-foot tall defenceman has committed to Penn State University.
The 16-year-old, Alexander Karmanov, a native of Moldova, spent last season playing in Russia and Belarus, scoring two goals and nine points across 25 games in three leagues. He’s committed to play this year for The Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton Knights in the AYHL 16U league, but has already committed to Penn State for 2027-28.
Not only is he seven-feet tall, but he also weighs in at 250 lbs.
News of his commitment was announced by the Knights Thursday.
There isn’t much known about Karmanov, but EliteProspects Rinkside’s Mitchell Brown tracked down some footage from a tournament he played in this year, and it’s shocking to see his size out there.
On first glance, he moves well for a player his size, and his reach in the defensive zone is absolutely incredible. You just know hockey guys everywhere are salivating about his size.
There’s only been three players to play at Penn State and make it to the NHL, according to College Hockey News: Casey Bailey, Brandon Biro and Brett Murray.
Bailey attended the university between 2012 and 2015, playing 13 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring one goal.
Biro, a native of Sherwood Park, attended the university between 2016 and 2020, spending his final season wearing the ‘C.’ He signed an entry-level deal with the Sabres, playing six games with them, scoring two goals, signing with the Seattle Kraken this offseason.
Murray, meanwhile, was drafted by the Sabres in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, playing 23 games between 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Penn State. He’s played 23 NHL games, scoring two goals and six points.
Surely Karmanov has a long way to go before ever having hopes of stepping on NHL ice, but as Daily Faceoff’s Tyler Kuehl wrote, he could become the tallest player to ever play Div. 1 NCAA hockey:
If everything goes according to plan for Karmanov, he would easily be the tallest player to ever play D1 college hockey. The tallest player at the NCAA level last year was Dartmouth College goaltender Cooper Black, who was reportedly six-foot-eight. That height is one inch shorter than legendary defenseman Zdeno Chara, who still holds the record for the tallest player to ever appear in the NHL. It is obviously too early to determine whether or not Karmanov will make it that far, but there is no question that the Nittany Lions are getting a player that stands head and shoulders, and then some, above the rest.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.

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