In the rafters of the Greenberg Ice Pavilion, the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers national championship banners hang large enough for all to see. But if you were sitting in the stands, you would have to squint to see the national runner-up banners.
For eight consecutive years the Icers have made it to the national championship. After winning four straight titles from 1999-2003, the Icers have fallen short of vic-
tory in the past four championship games.
After this weekend's domination of No. 2 Rhode Island, the Icers will most likely regain the No. 2 ranking in the next poll.
But does this ranking really matter?
Absolutely not. Sixteen teams make the ACHA tournament in early March, and barring a complete disaster, the Icers will be back trying to avenge the last four seasons. If they keep their record around .500, they will make the tournament. Considering their talent, the seeding that follows shouldn't concern them.
The regular season ranking cannot be viewed as important because their goal is simple: Stay healthy and win the national championship.
Watching the Icers compete against other teams makes it clear they are far superior. Skating faster, moving the puck better and getting more scoring opportunities is just a short list of how dominant the Icers have been this year.
Other than a two-goal loss to No. 1 Illinois on a rink 40-feet wider than they're accustomed to playing on, the Icers haven't been defeated in regulation all season. Their 13-1-2 record includes a victory over No. 4 Ohio and two wins over No. 2 Rhode Island.
Take a look at their Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League (ESCHL) conference standings, and their dominance is on display.
In 10 conference games, the Icers have scored 62 goals while allowing only seven. That 55-goal differential is more than four times greater than Delaware's 14, which is second best in the league. The Icers' 10-0-0 record for 20 points puts them seven points ahead of the next closest team. Penn State is the only team not to lose a conference game this season.
Last weekend against conference rival Rhode Island, the Icers had five players out of action with injuries and personal reasons and still beat the No. 2 team twice by a combined score of 9-2. Being on the road doesn't hinder the team's performance either, as the win capped off a six-game road trip where it won every game.
While it's nice to be ranked in the top 5, Penn State must take every precaution to make sure it's healthy for the ACHA tournament. Even with minor injuries, coach Scott Balboni is making sure his players take the time off to rest instead of risking more serious damage.
Sure, winning is important and the Icers are giving their best effort every night, but you couldn't blame them if their focus was somewhere else. All of the veteran players on the team know what it takes to make it to the title game and are just waiting for another chance to win.
Hockey isn't like college football where being in the top 2 of the BCS is everything. All the Icers have to do is take care of business and not worry about where they are at in the rankings.
The first month-and-a-half of the season has shown that if the Icers play their game, they are almost unbeatable. Game in and game out, the Icers outplay their opponents by using speed and physical play.
Defeat has a way of motivating players, and the Icers look like a team on a mission this season. They know the difficulty of getting to the championship game and need to take advantage of the opportunity.
