Penn State has another coaching deity. JoePa, meet JoeBa.

Joe Battista and the ice hockey club had plenty of reason to celebrate as they clutched the championship trophy and skated off the ice to chants of "JoeBa, JoeBa," after defeating Rhode Island, 11-2, to win the Nittany Lion Invitational Saturday night.

The Icers did not waste any time getting started, as forward Mike Cardonick sent an already emotional crowd into a frenzy with the game's first goal 27 seconds into the first period.

"(That was) absolutely the most important part of the game -- right off the bat, boom, bounce it in," Battista said.

The Rams, however, stayed close. At 10:25 in the second period, with Penn State leading 4-0, Rhode Island center Michael Ferry scored to make it 4-1. About a minute later, center Mike Cordeiro blasted a slapshot into the net, cutting the Icers' lead to 4-2.

But that was as close as it got. Rhode Island had six power plays in the first two periods, but could only convert on one as goalie Chris Puscian and Penn State's penalty-killing stopped Rhode Island cold. But it wasn't easy.

"They created a lot of havoc in front of the net," Puscian said. "They move the puck back and forth between the points, and you've got to move back and forth."

Puscian also credited the defense's ability to keep the puck in Rhode Island's end of the ice. "We almost had a couple of scoring opportunities while we were shorthanded," he said.

Meanwhile, the Icers made the most out of their opportunities, converting three of five power plays in that same stretch of time, one of them a goal by forward Ross Cowan at 13:51 into the second period, helping bring back momentum to the Icers' side.

Then came the third period -- and the onslaught. First, a goal by forward John Ioia 33 seconds into the period. Then, a little more than a minute later, Cowan shoved in a rebound off Rams goalie David Gove. 7-2, Penn State.

Arek Galle then relieved Gove, and the Icers were held at bay for a while. Then, at 8:38, forward John O'Connor scored. Nine seconds later, forward Chris Cervellero sent one by Galle, giving the Icers a 9-2 lead and sealing the win.

The Icers came into the championship following their 16-0 destruction of 12th-ranked Maryland the night before, a game that was over almost as soon as it started.

Emotion, which Battista said would be one of Maryland's biggest strengths, was quickly brought to Penn State's side when forward Andy McLaughlin scored 35 seconds into the game. Cowan followed up 1:54 into the game with a goal and added another at 5:14.

Anytime the Terrapins did manage to get the puck in Penn State's end, they were denied by goalie John Gray. The Icers added three more goals in the first period, and they were on their way to a blowout.

By the beginning of the third period, Battista had sent left wing Dave Esposito onto the ice -- wearing McLaughlin's uniform -- along with right wing Dave Schultz. Esposito scored at 9:14 and Schultz scored at 15:18 in the period.

McLaughlin scored four goals in that game and two in the championship, earning him MVP honors and a spot on the All-Tournament team. O'Connor, Puscian and defenseman Josh Brandewene also made the team.

Penn defeated Maryland, 6-4, in the consolation game. Penn had lost to Rhode Island, 6-4, in the first round.

The Icers finally put last year's Invitational, in which they lost 9-2 to Mercyhurst College in the final, behind them.

"Last year's (Invitational) hurt," McLaughlin said. "I'm glad to have it back in our building . . . I hope it'll be here the rest of the time I'm here."

"I think this (the tournament) will go a long way in helping us," Battista said. "Right now the confidence is high. This team believes it can win against anybody . . . the team feels great about how we're playing right now, and I think our chances are very good."