It was the fans' way of saying "thank you" to the 10 seniors who have been the backbone of the Penn State men's ice hockey team.

But there was a larger message transmitted by the Icers' faithful during the pre-game ceremony that honored the Penn State seniors before Saturday's game against Seneca.

Goodbye.

The No. 2 Icers' (23-3-3) season is far from complete. They will begin their defense of the Murdoch Cup -- the American Collegiate Hockey Association's championship hardware -- in the ACHA Tournament beginning March 3 in Newark, Del.

But it was a sentimental signoff to the team's fan base.

"I guess it's bittersweet," senior defenseman Jason Zivkovic said. "Four years here and it went so fast. These are the best fans I've ever played in front of."

While some seniors will pursue the dream -- donning a sweater of a NHL team -- others will choose a path in their chosen field of study. Others are undecided about the future. Zivkovic will move on to law school.

Mark Scally -- the No. 3 goaltender -- can return to the Icers next year if he wishes to exercise a fifth-year of eligibility.

But what's certain is all of the seniors -- the foundation and leaders of the defending ACHA champions -- can leave Happy Valley.

Icers coach Joe Battista isn't going anywhere.

He will stay in town to repair the damage suffered by his hockey infrastructure when the seniors are ripped from his foundation. To prevent it from imploding, Battista must replace them with new guys ready to adopt a leadership role.

Penn State will get hit hardest on defense, which has always been Battista's staple. Captain Buff Shuttleworth, Zivkovic and Don Coyne will leave a gaping void in the defense. Goaltenders John Sixt and Anthony Annexy will be a dearly missed luxury. Scally's future is unclear.

Offensively, senior forwards C.J. Patrick, Ed Bursich, Rich Podulka and Joe Bassett are replaceable, but their work ethic won't be. They are tough, hard-nosed forwards that truly "earn" goals and all four are critical to the Icers' special team units.

Any scout can find talent. Speedy goal-scorers are easy to locate on the ice. Smart, physical defensemen draw attention when the "boom" of their body checks echo through the arena. Dominating goalies shine when denying one-on-one breakaways.

And Penn State has substantial young talent. Sophomore forward Alon Eizenman will continue to carry the offense in the coming seasons. Freshman Travis Dorsey proved his quick five-foot-seven, 155-pound frame can endure the pounding of collegiate hockey. Lately, freshman forward Joe McArdle has emerged as an offensive threat.

The Icers have five juniors who are vital to their success, too. And Battista said he will "reload" not "rebuild" next season.

But leadership isn't so easy to discover. It's an intangible property. It doesn't show-up in the boxscore.

The most alarming realization is the sheer number of seniors to replace. Ten guys collectively carried the torch of leadership. Now it must be passed.

Who will be the first to grab it? Battista won't know until some time next season. But he doesn't care to know now. His only concern is winning back-to-back titles.

With another ACHA Championship at the end of the year, the departing seniors would seal their legacy as perhaps the best class Battista has ever coached.