Icers can clinch ESCHL title as early as this weekend
Alumni weekend is always a special event for the No. 2 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers, but this time they plan on showing the alumni a Penn State first -- an ESCHL regular season title.
The Icers can clinch the inaugural ESCHL title with at least a win and a tie against the Drexel Dragons (6-15-3, 3-11-0 ESCHL) at 9 tonight and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.
Winning the first title will help Penn State (25-1-4, 14-0-0) make a statement in the league and give them a bye in the league's postseason tournament next month.
"It's important to us so we don't have to play three games in the league tournament, and being able to put that on our plaque is special," Penn State coach Scott Balboni said. "It's the first of the three titles we wanted: the regular season title, the playoff championship and the national championship."
Penn State has rolled through the league this year, winning all 14 games by a margin of 5.4 goals per game and no team stayed within three goals of the Icers all season.
In the last three games, the Icers have scored 27 goals, largely because the entire team is healthy.
"We've been playing great offensively as of late, and we have to get out fast like we have the last few games," Penn State forward Luke DeLorenzo said. "If we can keep our game plan simple, we will be in good shape to capture the league."
About 100 alumni are coming in for this weekend's series, Balboni said, adding there's a breakfast with the alumni tomorrow morning. In the second game of the weekend, the Icers will be wearing their third jersey -- a silver-colored shirt with navy blue flames.
Fans can bid on the game-worn jerseys during the game.
"We have a lot of events going on so it's important that the team stays focused on hockey," Balboni said.
"In the midst of the third jersey night and the alumni, the coaches have to do our job
and make sure everyone is ready to go out and win."
The players understand the challenge at hand but are relishing the opportunity to play in front of the alumni and fans.
"It's awesome to be able to play in front of guys who did everything for us and made this program what it is," Icers' forward Matt Schwartz said.
"The program here is amazing with opportunities like this.
"I've played at another school and we get treated awesome here, and I look forward to meeting all the guys who came before me."
