Last ice pavilion song for unsung senior Icers

On every team there are unsung heroes.

These players go out game after game, giving everything they can muster, both physically and mentally, to help their teams win. And although they may not appear at the top of the scoring sheet, their presence is felt every time they put on a uniform.

When the Penn State men's ice hockey team steps on the ice for its final home game of the season, the Icers' own unsung heroes, forward Jurgen Cautreels and defenseman Cameron Brown, will be stepping on the ice at the ice pavilion for the final time in their careers.

The end of the game will close the home careers of two great, but often overlooked, players.

"I'm definitely gonna miss it," Cautreels said. "It's gonna be tough."

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Cautreels, a native of Antwerp, Belgium, who went to boarding school in Massachusetts, has used his size and versatility to get his presence known on the ice.

"He's been an all-around guy for us," assistant coach Scott Balboni said. "He's played some forward, some defense. Basically, (he's) a great guy and has done whatever we've asked him, the kind of guy who would go through a wall for you."

Cautreels not only learned to accept different roles during his four years with the Icers, but he also learned how the game itself can relate to everyday life.

"Having played in all four years, I've been in a lot of different situations when you're down a goal or up a goal," Cautreels said. "And I think that relates to life a little bit. If you're slacking off in life, you can turn around, if it's your teammates or your family, and see what is going on and figure out a way to solve whatever is wrong."

"I prefer to play defense, and I think the coaching staff knows that," Brown said. "If they pressured me to play offense, I won't survive on this team, and I think that they realize that."

Brown only has one point on the season. His coach will not remember him for his offensive capabilities, but for his nightly effort.

"The thing about Cam is he's not a spectacular player, so there's nothing spectacular that really stands out. It's his consistency that matters," coach Joe Battista said. "He does a lot of the little things, penalty-kill and five-on-five, that maybe the general fan doesn't see, but we as coaches appreciate."

Brown's season almost ended on Jan. 16 against West Virginia when he suffered a third-degree separation of his shoulder. At that moment, Brown believed his Penn State career had abruptly ended.

"It set in when I was sitting in the hospital," Brown said. "When I was sitting there, the only thing I could think about was that I'm not going to be able to finish this with the team I started with. And that really upset me."

But, lucky for the Icers, Brown is healthy and he and Cautreels will have the chance to be recognized in their final games at Penn State.