Due to the Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers dominance this season, it seemed that it would take a rival with a similar style and first-hand knowledge of the Penn State system to present a challenge

Enter Josh Brandwene.

Brandwene, head coach of the fourth-ranked Michigan-Dearborn Wolves was a member of the Icers from 1987 to 1991. His close relationship with Icers coach Joe Battista and their similar coaching styles led to a great weekend for hockey.

The Icers managed to come back from a two-goal deficit after the first period on Friday's game to win 4-3. They followed up the gritty win with a commanding 5-2 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Brandwene currently stands at fifth place for the Icers in career points scored by a defenseman with 141. He also served as an alternate captain for Battista's first ACHA National Championship in the 1989-1990 season. Then in 1996 he was inducted as a member of the Penn State Hockey Hall of Fame.

The accolades do not stop with records and statistics for Brandwene. Being Battista's first recruit as coach at Penn State, and serving as a captain during his time on the team, Brandwene will always have a close relationship with his former coach and gives credit for being part of the reason he got into coaching.

"I feel like Josh is family, he and I have that kind of relationship," Battista said.

Both coaches think of themselves as player's coaches and have defense-first systems. This was clear during Friday's game, when Penn State had trouble breaking through the alternating defenses of the Wolves for much of the game. Brandwene disguised the team's defense by switching between a trap and different forechecking alignments. Some of these defenses were specialized for the purpose of stopping the Icers and their powerful attack.

"I give him credit because I think he realize that's what they needed to do to be able to be in the game with us," Battista said of the Wolves' effort on Friday.

Although the trip resulted in two hard-fought losses for Michigan-Dearborn, both teams have earned a lot of mutual respect for each other. Also Brandwene's homecoming meant a chance to take in the atmosphere of Happy Valley.

"It's a great environment, and it was good to see some old friends," Brandwene said.

Battista also praised Brandwene's achievements as President of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

"He has just done a phenomenal job as the president of the ACHA, the growth of the organization under his tutelage has been incredible. That has a lot to do with his organizational skills, his passion for the game."

In the seven years that Brandwene has served as president the league has amassed over 150 men's teams in three divisions and has added a women's division in 2000. Brandwene attributes this incredible growth to everything from marketing strategies, including a new logo, to the increasing credibility the league is gaining.

"It's being built on the foundation that people like Coach Battista laid," he said.

Before taking the reigns of Michigan-Dearborn's program, Brandwene spent seven successful seasons at Delaware, earning the Coach of the Year honors in 2001. Battista pointed out his former player's influence on a strong Delaware team as well.

"Look at Delaware right now, they got a lot of great freshman. Well that was Josh's recruiting class. Josh left them in good hands," he said.

The two big wins for Penn State are a tribute to their depth and coaching but did serve as a valuable experience for both teams, especially the young squad from Michigan-Dearborn.

"I think we grew a lot as a hockey team. It's disappointing without a win, but we leave as a better team," said Brandwene.

If this is true it can only lead to more excitement when the two teams meet again Jan. 30 in Michigan.