The slogan on the Icers' season schedule reads, "The Final Four in '94." The players now feel the slogan is an underachievement.

"The final four isn't enough. We want to be national champions," reads the anonymous, typed sign in the locker room. This represents the attitude of the team as it approaches nationals.

While the Icers probably will never have another team like last year's, which made history with a 33-1 record, Coach Joe Battista fondly remembers a team similar to this year's -- his 1990 squad that won Penn State's last national title.

"This team, I think, has the potential to be national champions if a lot of things kind of come together at the same time," Battista said.

Last weekend's victory over West Chester pushed the Icers into the No. 1 spot in the AHCL and secured the No. 3 seed for nationals. So as the season winds down and the level of play increases, the Icers once again prepare to surprise critics.

"I think everybody kind of wrote us off at the beginning of the year because we were a young team," senior co-captain Mark Cervellero said. "So I think it's in everybody's mind right now that it's more like this team this year can do it."

There is no doubt that this year has been one of learning for both players and coaches. Throughout the course of the season an "esprit de corps" developed as roles became defined and accepted on the team.

"If you've got the guys that are in and out of the lineup that aren't on board, that aren't being supportive, then you're not going to go as far as you can go," Battista said. "And I think that we've got those guys on board right now, because they're working hard at practice, which is forcing everybody else to work hard."

Battista also said the Icers possess the backbone for success, with players holding a sense of confidence through actions, responsibility, sacrifices and commitment. A prime example of the younger players exibiting these characteristics is freshman forward Tom Duhamel.

"When I was coming in, I really didn't know if freshmen played a lot," Duhamel said. "It kind of surprised me that I was playing every game. And as it went on, I got more confidence and I felt more a part of it."

The fine standards set by veterans not only inspired the rookies, but also added to the impact of this year's team.

Right now, Battista said the keys to clinching another championship hinge on strong goaltending and solid team defense.

"That team thought that it was this goal-scoring machine," Battista said of the 1990 team. "But at the end of the season, there was a commitment to defensive hockey that enabled us to win games that we weren't supposed to win."

The Icers have already crossed paths with North Dakota State, Arizona and Iowa State, who showed a general lack of respect towards Penn State earlier this season, Battista said. However, that attitude does not seem to faze the Icers.

"I think right now, we're going in on a real high note," defenseman Jeff Eccleston said. "We've got a nice winning streak going right now and I think we're firing from all cylinders. We've got to show eveyone what we've got."