Although the ACHA Division I preseason rankings were released Friday, Tim O'Brien didn't find out where the Penn State Icers were ranked until Sunday.
The Icers' junior forward was unaware that Penn State was third in the preseason rankings. Although he said that was where he expected the team to be, he said it doesn't have a lot of significance.
"It's really just a number," O'Brien said. It doesn't really mean much, preseason rankings. I really didn't know that we were gonna be three or 10 or three, it doesn't really matter though."
Penn State enters the season, which kicks off a week from Friday against Towson, ranked behind two teams in the preseason poll. It just happens those two teams are the defending National Champions -- Lindenwood -- and their Finalist opponent -- Illinois.
It is also the second straight season the Icers are third in the preseason rankings and ranked behind Lindenwood and Illinois.
The only difference between last year and this year is Illinois was No. 1 and the defending champs, while Lindenwood was No. 2 and the national runner-up.
"There's really nothing we have to live up to," O'Brien said. "We're not No. 1, we're not No. 30, we don't have to prove ourselves. I think, yes, being three is a good thing, but it doesn't really matter much to us."
While there is no argument that Lindenwood and Illinois shouldn't be the top two teams, there can be some positives about being ranked in their same class.
Mostly, the ranking can be used as a motivator to get back to the glory days of earlier this decade, when the Icers won four straight National Championships.
"I think it gives us a goal, something to work for. We're trying to get back on top," forward Matt Kirstein said
Veterans like Kirstein and O'Brien said they don't feel any pressure to live up to the ranking. Upperclassmen like goaltender Teddy Hume could be an example to show the younger players the expectations are still high even though it is a younger team.
"We're still gonna go out there and work hard for 60 minutes and try to win hockey games," Hume said.
"We're not gonna play any less or let it get into our heads whether we're ranked third or sixth. It doesn't match us."
But as early practices continue, Kirstein was quick to point out that no games have been played yet.
"No one's really proven themselves yet," Kirstein said.
"You always want to have as high a ranking as possible in time to make it to Nationals, but I don't think it's something we worry about too much."
