The Penn State ACHA Division I Icers haven't had much to adjust to this season in terms of their schedule. Games on Fridays and Saturdays are the usual for the team.

Today is truly a change of pace for Penn State.

The Icers (15-1-3, 12-0-0 ESCHL) will take on Indiana University of Pennsylvania at 7:30 tonight in the Indiana Ice Center.

Icers junior forward Jaime Zimmel said even though it falls on the Wednesday, they have to treat it like any other game.

"Preparation has to be the same," he said. "You have to get the right amount of sleep and all of the little things. We have to show up to the rink ready to play just like if it was a weekend game."

Penn State's practice schedule was changed, however, because of the abnormal circumstances. The players were given Monday off, and Tuesday's practice was all about flow and shooting rather than the usual full-contact defensive practice they normally run.

This is the Icers' first of two games scheduled for midweek this season, the other being a Wednesday contest with Washington and Jefferson in late January. Icers coach Scott Balboni, who schedules his team's games, said the midweek contest was a make-up because only the Friday game of a weekend set scheduled earlier in the season was played because of a rink conflict on that following Saturday. He owed the Crimson Hawks a game, and midweek was the only time he was able to schedule it.

Balboni said the game might play more in favor for IUP.

"It's one of those situations where they have a tremendous amount to gain, and we have an awful lot to lose," he said. "There are also a lot of kids on their team who wanted to come to Penn State and couldn't for one reason or another, and they have a chip on their shoulder."

IUP coach Dan Hestin said his game plan is to keep his players' penalties down because Penn State has great overall talent.

"We have to play very disciplined, and if we don't, it could get ugly," Hestin said. "We don't want to get mesmerized because it's Penn State and just play our game."

The last time the Crimson Hawks played their game against the Icers in late October, they lost 5-1.

Zimmel said it is imperative they play their own game and not get caught up in what IUP wants to do.

"We can't worry about playing their game," he said. "If we play our game, they won't be able to adjust to our speed so we'll draw penalties. If we keep our speed going, they can't catch up with us."