It?s pretty cool. I take a lot of pride in durability by eating well and staying strong. It?s an honor to say I?m in the top three and be mentioned in the same sentence as Jeff Hamilton.

You definitely want to know where you are, and every weekend can present an opportunity to jump up in the standings drastically. The parity in this league is wild every week, so any and all points we can pick up make a big difference when all is said and done.

We have been shut out since last year, and haven't done much to change people's minds until now. It's OK, let them underestimate us. We want to keep improving and be playing our best hockey of the year when playoffs come, and let the chips fall where they may.

Now is as good a time as any to change it.

They take a lot of pride in being the Patriots, and we take a lot of pride in being the Crusaders.

Nobody likes to be considered a rollover or a laughingstock. I think guys are taking pride in the notion we can play and compete with some of these teams, so why not? Why end and just mail in the season? Go as hard as you can and mess things up at the top of the standings a little bit while you're in the process.