As Icers fans filled up the Greenberg Ice Pavilion, they shared their seats with West Virginia fans, bumped into Oklahoma alumni at the concession stand and applauded the introduction of players from Illinois.

Players from 32 colleges across the nation converged on State College to compete in the inaugural ACHA All-Star Game on Saturday. Penn State coach Scott Balboni coached the White team, which defeated the visiting Blue team 5-4.

Penn State junior goalie Nick Signet, senior defenseman Keith Jordan and forward Mike McMullen joined their coach on the White team, and Signet even got the starting nod at goalie. Penn State boasted the most players in the game, but that didn't seem to bother any of the visiting crowd.

One fan in attendance, Glenn Baumgartner, took the four-hour trip from Columbus, N.J., to see his son and University of Delaware representative Joe Baumgartner play in the game.

"This seems good," Glenn Baumgartner said. "They did a good job with this; the teams are balanced. I don't care who wins or loses. It's something to enjoy."

Balboni and his players also took advantage of what was meant to be a good time.

"It seems the guys had a lot of fun," Balboni said. "I mixed up lines so people could play with guys that knew each other."

The game provided an opportunity for the players to meet and share the ice with skaters hailing from Happy Valley to Arizona State to Pitt.

Although many of the participants were playing on the same team as their rivals, the mood was kept light and the players took advantage of the situation.

"Everyone was talking with each other," Signet said. "It was a good time."

Aside from the no checking rule that is common practice in any all-star game, the ACHA's contest showed little resemblance of a typical all-star game.

After a committee decided on 40 representatives, Balboni and Delaware coach Mike DeAngelis, the coach for the Blue team, took turns drafting teams from the list. Players were required to provide their own transportation to State College but were treated to hotel rooms and meals being paid in full by the league.

The first period also introduced a rare feature for an all-star game -- defense.

The first goal of the game, and the only score of the first period, was not scored until seven minutes remained. Pitt forward Justin Thomas beat Signet high glove side with a rocket of a wrist shot.

"It took a while for the guys to get their legs under them," Balboni said, jokingly.

The second period brought more of what was expected with four goals being tallied, two of which were only separated by 47 seconds.

For Balboni and his Icer-equipped White team, the second period proved to be game clinching.

The White team tallied three straight goals and never trailed afterward.

Despite the result, players from both teams sported smiles after the game, and most said they'd love to play again next season.

"It ends the season on a high note," Signet said.