Maybe it was the coach's inspiring speech, maybe it was the six hour nap. Regardless, the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers' Mike Carrano looked energized on the ice this weekend.

"My only superstition on Friday is I get out of class at 12, and I sleep straight to 6:40," he said. "Then I just get dressed and go to the rink."

The routine may sound a little odd, but nobody's questioning its results after two hard-fought games against Rhode Island.

Coach Joe Battista even labeled it as Carrano's "best weekend as an Icer."

Carrano finished with two goals and a pair of assists against the Rams. And, he somehow accounted for all but one of Penn State's five scores during the homestand.

"He's been a quiet leader these last two weekends," Battista said. "Mike's not a very talkative guy, but he's done it with his play."

With three of the Icers' top skaters in Austria competing in the World University Games, Penn State desperately needed a player to step up.

Even assistant captain Brett Wilson believed Carrano was that player.

"I think this weekend Carrano played unbelievable," Wilson said. "He got kind of snubbed with that -- the picking of the team that went to Austria. He was one of the last cuts.

"I think he kind of took it personally."

Battista also said it was "unfair that he didn't get to be a part of that team," but he thinks Carrano is certainly proving his doubters wrong with his play on the ice.

"The way to prove to them that they made a mistake is to go out and have a great year," Battista said. "And this ought to send a message to those people that maybe, just maybe, they made a mistake."

Carrano's performance shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Last week, he was a force to be reckoned with against No. 4 Ohio.

Not only did he record an assist against the Bobcats, he also showcased a good sense of awareness and intelligence.

Battista pointed toward two particular Carrano plays that impressed him.

"Late in the third period, just as one of their guys as about to shoot the puck, Carrano dove and lifted the kid's stick up," he said last week.

"In that same shift [Matt] Wallace, one of our defensemen, lost his stick and Carrano had the presence of mind to give him his."

Carrano didn't make many adjustments between the games this past weekend, but said he "focused more on defense in the second game."

It was a little ironic, then, that the defensive-minded Carrano finished with one goal and two assists in Saturday's contest. According to Carrano, the main difference was simply that he and the Icers were able to finally capitalize on their scoring opportunities.

Carrano was awarded the game puck on Friday, scored the game-winning goal on Saturday -- and earned another nap on Sunday.

All in a weekend's work.