Do a double take, or a triple take, or a quadruple take.
It doesn't get any less impossible to believe.
The Penn State men's hockey program has a player committed who is reportedly 7-foot-1 and 280 pounds.
His name is Alexander Kharmanov, and he doesn't stop growing.
2027 Penn State commit Alexander Kharmanov KEEPS GROWING… he’s now listed at 7 FOOT 1, 280 POUNDS 😱
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 14, 2025
(h/t @Hockey_Robinson) pic.twitter.com/o9xQIPp1bj
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It's hard to imagine a player like this on the ice, especially at the NCAA level, but it could be an exciting time for the Nittany Lions.
The NHL has had tall players, including 6-foot-9 defenseman Zdeno Chara and 6-foot-9 current Rangers forward Matt Rempe.
But 7-foot-1 would be unprecedented if Kharmanov ever followed a path all the way to the NHL.
First, he'll head to Happy Valley and play for PSU.
Penn State has been more notable in the wider hockey world this year thanks to the commitment and enrollment of Gavin McKenna. He's the presumed No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, and he opted to play a year of college hockey rather than staying in juniors.
McKenna will presumably be gone when Kharmanov enrolls, but it'll be another reason to keep track of what the Nittany Lions are doing.
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