You won't see them on the ice. You'll never even see them score a goal or make a save. But you will see them in the ice rink at 3 a.m., cramming and preparing like every day is finals week.

The Penn State ACHA Division I Icers are among the top hockey programs in the nation, and for a good reason -- coaching.

"Some people get up at 4 a.m., work, and they're in bed by 9 p.m.," head coach Joe Battista said. "It's not unusual for me to leave at 2 or 3 a.m., but I'm still getting up at 7-7:30."

Assistant coach Chris Schmale said it's a common practice to spend "at least 60-70 hours a week" at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

But nobody's arguing the time isn't paying dividends.

Penn State has yet to lose on a Saturday after tying or losing the evening before. Overall, the Icers (15-5-2) have lost only one Saturday game all season -- a 4-2 upset at the hands of Michigan-Dearborn.

Against No. 1 Rhode Island this past weekend, for instance, Battista and his coaching staff made several key changes between Friday's 7-1 loss and Saturday's 4-3 victory -- including teaching the Icers a defense they had never practiced.

"We just drew it up, gave them a handout and said 'We think this'll work,' " Battista said. "And I think it did."

The defense, a left-wing lock, was instituted after volunteer assistant coach Ray Lombra noticed the Rams had a tendency to break the puck right between 80 and 90 percent of the time. The lock allows two forwards to be aggressive, as the defensemen tighten up the left side of the ice.

That adjustment, coupled with a switch to a 1-3-1 power play and transitioning the penalty killing line, helped the Icers go from a lopsided loss to a close win.

Of course, what good is it if Penn State wasn't motivated in the first place?

Cue the Rocky theme music -- literally.

Battista and his staff showed the Icers a highlight tape from 1990, in which a heavily favored Ohio squad fell to Penn State in the national tournament. Appropriately enough, Battista played Rocky music in the background.

"We were just hoping that maybe that would give them [a boost]," he said. "The main thing is that we've been Goliath for so long, and we tried to get them to understand that we have to play like the David and be giant-killers."

After losing to St. Clair 6-3 in early December, the Icers also managed to rebound with a 1-1 tie while playing the role of David.

Battista recalled the preparations after the Friday game with a grimace.

"When we lost to St. Clair, Chris [Schmale] and I were talking about what adjustments we needed to make and left the office at 5:45 a.m.," Battista said.

"And we were back at 10 a.m.," Schmale added.

It's that kind of dedication that has allowed Penn State to remain No. 2 in the nation this season -- despite losing one-third of its roster and starting about 10 first-year players.

The staff hasn't been at ease this week either. Penn State is slated to take on No. 16 Mercyhurst, a team that Battista likened to college football's Utah State, at 8 p.m. tomorrow.