On Oct. 17, 2000, Penn State Icers coach Joe Battista made a prophetic statement that Miss Cleo can only dream about.

"We've got an outstanding rookie class," Battista told The Daily Collegian at the time.

"We've got some guys here who I think are going to be strong players for years to come. We've got a lot of strong young players and we're very excited about the future."

Four years later, that rookie class -- which included stalwart forwards Bill Downey and Glenn Zuck, and defenseman Curtiss Patrick-- has exceeded everybody's expectations, including those of its head coach.

Really, how could they not have? Had Battista predicted a combined record of 114-13-4 heading into its final home game this weekend at Greenberg Ice Pavilion against Robert Morris (Ill.) from this group of seniors, he would have been called crazy.

With three straight national championships to boot, the No. 1 Icers (28-2-0) have now turned Battista's innocent statement into gaudy expectations, though it's not as if these seniors can't handle them.

"Things just keep clicking and now it's kind of where you get used to winning and that's all you want and that's all you think about and all you work for," Zuck said.

"That's what I'm looking forward to, that fourth championship."

These seniors -- all eight of them -- have made contributions in every facet of the game, starting with forward Zuck, whose phenomenal offensive talent has him second all-time among Icers in goals, assists, and points and earned him back-to-back first team ACHA All-American honors.

Forwards Brendan Roache and Jack Weber are the unsung heroes, the guys laying the big hits and doing the dirty work, all with little recognition. Captains Downey and Patrick are big game players, both for their skill and their leadership. Their toughness and commitment to winning made them natural leaders.

Then, there are the lesser known seniors in goalie Brian Gratz, forward Pat Schaeffer and defenseman Joe Sheridan, all of whom have fit seamlessly into their supporting cast roles.

"It's a great bunch of guys, people that you can be friends with that you'll have for the rest of your life," Zuck said.

But for Battista, this group is about more than the national championships, more than the wins and more than the No. 1 rankings. Its biggest contributions have been the work in the classroom, for dance marathon and ice rhythms, as well as many other volunteer programs.

"They've really distinguished themselves, both on and off the ice," Battista said. "To me, these guys have had the best of all worlds here. They epitomize what a student athlete [at Penn State] can get out of it."

While their time here at Penn State is winding down, the players said it hasn't all set in yet, partly because they don't want to let the so called "best four years of your life" go, but probably more because they have one more goal to attain.

"As of right now I'm so focused, and the majority of us are so focused on nationals that we haven't been getting emotional about it," Downey said.

As for the coach who got Downey to commit a day before classes started his freshman year, got Div. I-caliber Zuck to play in the ACHA, and lured transfers Roache and Schaeffer from other programs, this group will always be a special one among the many he guided.

"Bittersweet," Battista said of his feelings on this weekend. "On the one hand, you're saying goodbye to guys that have really left a tremendous legacy, but we have unfinished business. We can't get too sentimental. I still think we have another chapter to write and hope it's a good one."