Penn State Icers coach Joe Battista said the Icers have something to prove in the team's remaining 14 games, a fact that's hard to imagine considering that the No. 1 Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers (20-0-0) haven't lost a game yet.

What more can they do? Become road warriors, Battista said, the prospect of which has him excited to get back behind the bench.

"It's a short track now and that's why it's going to be important that we do the things we need to do to be in shape when we come back," Battista said. "We've tried to impress upon them that the real season starts now."

First up is bitter rival No. 7 Ohio University (11-5-1) on the road, reason enough for the Icers to be focused coming back from break.

"That should be enough incentive to be in shape [after break]," Battista said. "That's one of the reasons we like to play Ohio on the road in the second semester."

The Icers, while enjoying the time off, will be responsible for a three-week work out and nutrition program handed out by strength coach Brad Pantall. The players will be on the honor system, and must hand in a workout card after break.

The respite has come at a perfect time the Icers, who should be fully healthy for the first time this season. This fact is important as the Icers enter one of most hostile arenas in the ACHA.

"I expect it to just be raucous," Battista said. "These are the kind of games that the real competitors want to play in."

While the strong start to the season has solidified the Icers chances of rapping up top seed at the National Tournament in March, Battista said they haven't won anything yet.

"You don't count your chickens before they hatch," Battista said.

-- By Joel Rineer