When various members of the Penn State hockey community approached Chris Whittemore to coach the Lady Icers, there was initially hesitation.

Whittemore, who manages the Greenberg Ice Pavilion, didn't know if he wanted to add more responsibility to his plate.

He had coached before, everything from Mite youth hockey through high school -- never with a women's team.

The decision required a lot of thought. Did Whittemore want to become the team's third coach in three seasons? Would coaching detract too much from his job running the area's only rink?

Eventually Whittemore became the coach at the beginning of this season. He didn't, however, make a long-term commitment.

The idea was for him to lead the team in the short term while the program kept its eyes open for another coach.

After a year of growing with the team, of instilling specific systems and building a sense of self-discipline and bonding with these players, there's been a slight change of heart.

Whittemore wants another chance to coach this team.

"My attitude has changed from the beginning to now," said Whittemore, who is preparing the Lady Icers for this week's ACHA national tournament at Michigan State. "I was only going to do this a couple months, half the year, the full year, then they were going to have a new coach come in."

This year has been somewhat challenging for the program as it adjusted to the loss of four seniors from last year's team, including all-star forward Lauren Shaw, and moved into the more competitive Eastern Collegiate Women's Hockey League.

Six talented freshmen have been blended into the mixture.

The Lady Icers finished third in the ECWHL standings and the tournament. They are seeded 11th entering nationals.

Having Whittemore's experienced hand at the helm has been beneficial.

"We have a lot younger team this year, and Chris did a great job working with skills at the beginning of the season," said junior defenseman Stephanie Feyock, the club's president.

Whittemore started playing hockey when he was seven. After playing ice hockey at Bowling Green State University, he turned to officiating and coaching -- he was head coach at Woodland Hills High School and an assistant coach at Mount Lebanon High School, both in suburban Pittsburgh -- before coming to work at the Ice Pavilion.

That breadth of experience commands attention, junior forward Alex McVicker said.

"Everyone on the team respects him," McVicker said. "People listen to what he says."

When Whittemore took over the program this year he aimed to create a disciplined unit that kept its head straight at all times -- and was, first and foremost, a team. Some of the players said the team was not serious last year. It resulted in players, to some degree, wanting a taskmaster.

"For most of us, that's what we had been used to playing hockey," McVicker said. "That was a big relief after having gone through last year."

The players have responded, Whittemore said, by proving they are dedicated to the program.

"It's been nice to see that these girls wanted to make this program work," he said. "They've all wanted this [trip to nationals] to happen. It's been their commitment to this program that makes this pleasurable to do."

If there has been one adjustment Whittemore has had to make, it's learning the art of motivating the female student-athlete.

With eight juniors slated to return next year, only one player graduating, and hopes for another strong freshman class, next season seems to create high expectations.

Whittemore said bringing in a new coach and introducing a new style of play would be difficult for those seniors-to-be. He said he would like to at least see that group through.

The final decision on next year's coach basically rests with the club's officers and Whittemore, according to Dale Roth, director of recreation services and club sports.

Roth said that it is up to Whittemore to decide whether he can balance rink management and coaching duties. He said a final decision would be reached based on the club's recommendation.

"He's a good instructor, a good coach," Roth said. "He seems to have a good rapport with the girls."

All signs seem to point to a return. Feyock said the final decision is Roth's but the team is preparing to have its coach back.