The Patrick name is synonymous with hockey.

It dates back to the days of Lester Patrick, the one for whom the NHL's former Patrick Division was named. Ever since, the family has been instrumental in hockey in America.

Craig Patrick is currently the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but he may not be the lone family member in the organization for long.

Curtiss Patrick, great-grandson of Lester and nephew of Craig, certainly has the hockey pedigree. He just completed his four-year career as a member of the Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers and is currently in training camp with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League (AHL), fighting for a spot on the team's regular-season roster. Camp began Saturday and will last two weeks.

"It's definitely a goal," Patrick said of making the roster. "It's a pretty lofty one because they're bringing a lot of NHL guys down."

Wilkes-Barre is a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, for whom his father Glenn is a scout, but because the athletes are members of a different players union than those in the NHL, there will be a season. Patrick's original plans were to attend training camp with the NHL Penguins, but when the league owners locked out their players on Sept. 15, nullifying any likelihood of the season beginning in October, Patrick changed his plans and is currently in Wilkes-Barre.

Without an NHL season, it would appear easier to make the minor league affiliate. However, Pittsburgh is sending a lot of utility guys down to training camp in hopes that they catch on with another team until the labor dispute is resolved. Hence, Patrick will be competing against much tougher competition than he would have if NHL camps were in session.

"There's a chance of catching on somewhere; it's a slim chance in Wilkes-Barre," he said. "I'm just going to play like a psycho, there's always room on a team for a psycho. And hopefully if I don't make it, they'll have me in mind later in the season."

Patrick is already off to a psycho-like beginning. During the first preseason scrimmage on Sunday, Patrick got into a little Donnybrook with Alain Nasreddine, something Baby Penguins coach Michel Therrien said he did want to see at all during camp. However, Patrick's temper got the best of him and the two exchanged blows behind the net before referees intervened.

Throughout his four-year career with the Icers, Patrick made a name for himself throughout the ACHA as a tough-nose defender who was not afraid to stick his nose where it might not have belonged (he is the Icers career leader in penalty minutes served). Patrick helped anchor a defense that led the Icers to three national championships in four seasons. However, his success playing inside the blueline in college is something Patrick is leaving behind in hopes of taking his game to the next level.

"On defense if you get beat, you're done," he said. "This way I get to hit a lot and play good defense, and there's not as much on my shoulders."

Patrick played left wing on the black team's third line during yesterday's exhibition. Switching his position to forward is something that has been a dramatic change.

While at Penn State, Patrick did see some time as a forward during the 2002 season, due to an overabundance of quality defensemen. Icers coach Joe Battista moved Patrick to forward where he played well enough to give Battista the impression that Patrick can make it playing a more offensive style.

"He hits, and he's very assertive with the puck," Battista said. "He's gotten bigger and stronger and really has the kind of meanstreak in him to play at that level."

One big problem for Patrick is that he's only been practicing as a forward for the last three weeks, as opposed to defense, which he's been stationed at for years. This fact leaves Patrick wondering what might have happened if he played forward for the Icers.

"Now that I've tried to learn everything in three weeks, I wished I played more," he said. "I like playing forward; it's my best chance."

Without a whole lot of time to prepare for playing left wing, Patrick is hoping things come naturally and that he can bank on the fact that he's improved his overall hockey game over the summer, along with his conditioning. These were his priorities while living at home and focusing on training all summer long.

As a freshman, Patrick came in to Battista's program as a 6-foot-2, 160-pound stick. He currently tips the scales at 205 pounds, after adding another 10 to his chiseled frame to get ready for camp.

By adding muscle and not losing any speed on the ice, Patrick said he hopes his conditioning will pay dividends.

Patrick has something else on his side -- the name on the back of his sweater. However, while Curtiss has had an in with the organization for years, his name has gotten him to the point where it's now up to his play to advance his hockey career.

"That got him in the front door, but it's definitely not going to keep him on the roster," Battista said. "Curtiss worked very hard in the offseason and is in great shape, he's huge. He's playing with confidence and a jump in his step."

While both Patrick and Battista admit to having a slight advantage at one time, all that is in the past. However, something else working on Patrick's side is the fact that last season he had the opportunity to play in eight regular season games with the Johnstown Chiefs, an ECHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, after the Icers season concluded.

Patrick admits that was a great experience, although he played defense, not forward.

The biggest benefit for Patrick could be that the coaches in Johnstown have already seen him play, and if things do not work out with the Penguins, the Chiefs could be a likely suitor.

Patrick has another week and a half however, to prove that he belongs in the Penguins organization.