Penn State Icers goaltenders Chris Matteo and Nick Signet say they're the closest of friends.

Matteo, a senior, has the fifth most career wins (36) of any goalie in the program's history. Signet, a sophomore, has been mentored by the four-year veteran, who admits that his protégé is the future of Penn State hockey.

"We have a great relationship," Signet said.

"We're best buds."

Despite the fact that both are trying to fill the same role for the Icers, each said that it doesn't affect their friendship away from the rink.

"We do a good job of separating what goes on on the ice with what goes on off," Matteo said. "As a general rule, we won't even talk about hockey when we're off the ice."

But with a pair of matchups at home against No. 4 Ohio University looming this weekend and Matteo still recovering from a groin injury that has nagged him since the offseason, they may be the only people not talking about it.

No decision has been made yet about who will get the nod on Friday for No. 3 Penn State, but whoever head coach Scott Balboni chooses will be facing one of the ACHA's toughest teams.

In last weekend's ACHA Showcase, Matteo was taken out after the first period of Penn State's 5-3 loss to Oklahoma. He was experiencing pain in his groin, which has been bothering him since he had surgery in May. Signet made the most of his time in goal, allowing only one puck past him in the two games he started.

Matteo hopes to be fully recovered in time for this weekend, but knows that the decision of who will start ultimately rests in the head coach's hands.

"We're really playing it week-by-week with the trainers with where he stands and how he feels," Balboni said.

Signet's performance in the Showcase made a strong case that he deserves another chance in goal, but Balboni denies that there is a goalie controversy. In fact, Balboni embraces another "C" word when it comes to his netminders: competition.

"I think both of them knew from day one that my philosophy was whoever is playing the best will play and will continue to play. The other one will wait their turn," Balboni said.

"Everybody automatically thought Chris was the starter coming into the year, but in my mind that was not the case."

Matteo and Signet don't mind having to fight for the starting spot, and both said that it allows them to push each other to do even better.

"We're more about the success of the team," Signet said. "We just want the team to win. Whoever is playing better, that's who we want to see."

Matteo feels less pressure to hurry back knowing that the team has another strong option in net. Even if he is unable to play, he has confidence in Signet.

However, Matteo is still determined to get healthy, he assures that it won't be his injury that's keeping him off the ice.

"I would count on me being able to go," Matteo said.

"Honestly, it would take them amputating my leg to keep me out of this game."