They did everything they had to do, and what a job it was.

Coming into the season, the ACHA Div. I Icers were tabbed as favorites to win their third straight national championship, but the fact that they actually accomplished their goal makes it more impressive.

The Icers swept through competition at the ACHA national tournament at the Gardens Ice House in Laurel, MD. In what was supposed to be their toughest game of the tournament, they completely dominated a talented Illinois team en route to their 4-0 championship game shutout.

They played the entire tournament short on the firepower, which had given them the No. 1 seed.

Every player on the roster seemed to be battling some sort of nagging injury, but this was tournament time and there would be no excuses.

There was co-captain Kyle Jordan playing following surgery to reconstruct his knuckle a few weeks ago.

Joe McArdle played despite a hip injury, which had forced him to miss action earlier in the year. Not to mention three fourths of the team needed to be wrapped in ice after every game.

However, the Icers came through and bonded together at the right time -- tournament time. There was Scott Curry who tripled their goal output of the entire season in the tournament. And then there was Curtiss Patrick who separated his shoulder in the opening round game and came back to rip a slapshot from the blue line in the championship.

In a word, it was perfect.

The goaltending was the best it had been all season and one cannot say enough good words about the defense. It was one that allowed just five goals in four games, and one can not be unimpressed.

There were goals, too, and plenty of them to go around, an average of five per game.

One could go on and on praising all aspects of this team, but it would not do them justice. From the seniors who went out on top to the Ryan Tocockis and Greg Windsors who do not get the credit they deserve. Everybody did their part.

They sucked up their injuries and played as if Lord Stanley's Cup was on the line, even though it was the Murdoch Cup.

A trophy will rest in Happy Valley for another year, where all of the Icers can marvel at what they have accomplished. Not just this season, but during their run of three consecutive national championships.

That is pretty impressive.