First things first:  in the consolation game, #10 Rhode Island defeated #7
Ohio Univ. 6-2.  This severely hurts the Ohio Bobcats in terms of getting an
ACHA Nationals bid.
 
And now, the Championship Game of the 12th Annual Nittany Lion Invitational:
This game was all Penn State's from the beginning, although the referees did
try to even things up (more on this later).  #1 Penn State outscored Buffalo
State (who, even though I said they were unranked, the Bengals are actually an
ACHA Div. II team, where they were ranked #2) 3-1 in each period.  Buffalo St.'s
first period goal came on a shothanded breakaway, while they added a power-play
and even strength goal later on.  There was a slightly scary moment early in
the second period as a Bengal collided with one of the Icers at the Buff St.
blue line.  The Penn State player (unsure as to who it was) got up and kept
playing, but the Buff St. player skated dazedly to his bench, and collapsed
while entering the bench area.  Play was stopped while he was removed from the
ice via backboard (what are those things called, anyway?) for emergency
treatment.
 
Later in the period, the referees assessed Penn State with two somewhat
questionable penalties, giving Buff State about 1:20 of 5-3, which the Icers
killed successfully.  Interesting note:  the referees were the ECAC refs from
the previous night.  When all was said and done, the Icers had won their 20th
game of the season and the Nittany Lion Invitational.
 
All Tournament Team:
                G: (tie) JOHN GRAY, PSU
                         Garrett Bodington, URI
                D: SCOTT MANGENE, PSU
                   ERIK LIGHTNER, PSU
                F: Regis Marrale, Buff State
                   DAVE MURPHY, PSU
                   STEVE KARL, PSU
 
Tournament MVP:  STEVE KARL, PSU (4 g, 2 a on weekend, hat trick vs. Buffalo St)
 
With the win, the Icers move to 20-0-0 on the season, their fourth consecutive
20-win season and the fifth in the six years that JOE BATTISTA has been head
coach.  Buffalo St. falls to 15-4-0.
 
One down note for the Icers:  forward Mark Konchar is out for several weeks
with a "deep thigh contusion".
 
This weekend, Penn State hits the road in Atlantic Collegiate Hockey League
(ACHL) action.  On Friday, the Icers visit Newark, DE to face the Fightin'
Blue Hens of Delaware, and are in King of Prussia, PA against the West
Chester Univ. Golden Rams.  Earlier this season, the Icers defeated Delaware
8-3, and trounced WCU 10-0.
 
One last thing:  rumor has it that Navy will join the ACHL as of next season.
 
Jeremy Hall
Penn State Univ.
LET'S GO ICERS!!!!