The first time Ben Ruston played at the Tucson Convention Center, he was wearing the red and yellow of Iowa State.

It was the 1995 American Collegiate Hockey Association Championships and the experience taught Ruston one thing: He wanted to be an Arizona Icecat.

"I wanted to play and move to a better program," Ruston said. "As soon as I got here I knew this was the place I wanted to be."

Even though he was accepted into NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Superior, Ruston already had his mind made up.

"At Iowa we played in a barn in front of about 2,000 fans," the 20-year-old center said. "Here we play in front of 5,000 fans in a place that is like the professionals'."

With only one year of eligibility left, Ruston said he has no regrets since he joined the Icecats last fall.

"If you want to play college ice hockey, this is the place to come," he said. "I wouldn't want to play anywhere else."

Since the Illinois native has been here, Icecats coach Leo Golembiewski said he has been a great addition to the team.

"He's a keeper," he said. "In coach lingo, if you've got him, keep him."

Now that Ruston's dedication is solely to the Icecats, Golembiewski said he has been nothing but a positive influence on the team.

"He epitomizes the kind of center that I want," Golembiewski said. "He has speed and he attacks the net."

Ruston's execution of speed has helped him become the team's second-leading scorer, with 15 goals and 15 assists in just 10 games this season. Last year, he had 25 goals and 27 assists.

Co-captain Peter Scott said Ruston has improved since last season.

"He's a complete player, especially this year," Scott said. "Last year he was a little timid, but this year he's scoring the ugly goals by using his body."

The offensive combination of sophomore Andy Knick, Scott and Ruston has contributed to the Icecats' 10-0 record.

"This team is the best team I've ever played on," Ruston said. "I think we have a good enough team to win the national title."

Whether that's in reach for the No. 8 Icecats is a different story. But Ruston said he feels good about what this year's team represents.

"It's a reachable goal," he said. "I wouldn't have said that about the team we had last year."

Ruston said he believes that this goal is what connects him to Golembiewski.

"He has the same goals as I do: winning the national championship," Ruston said. "He knows what it takes and that will help us get into the mindset we need to win."

However, the national tournament is still three months away. For now, Ruston hopes his positive attitude and work ethic will help keep the Icecats in the hunt for a title.

"I want to be thought of as an example by the things I do on the ice," he said. "I work hard in practice and in games."

Ruston said he is also one of the players that gets guys excited on the bench, by motivating them to work hard on the ice.

"He loves to play the game," Scott said. "He gets pumped up for games and gets everyone else into it."

Getting the rest of his team "into it" is important, Ruston said, especially when it comes to the performance of his line.

"If we go out there and have a good shift, it influences the rest of the lines," he said. "But if we play bad, the rest of the team plays bad."

The main role of a center is to score goals, and Ruston said he has improved in that area of his game.

"My shot selection is better," he said. "I'm shooting the puck well and I'm more of a team player than I ever was. I've improved all the way around."

If Ruston continues to improve, his goal for playing in the NHL may be reached more easily.

"Making it to the NHL has to be every hockey player's dream," he said. "I want to reach the highest level I possibly can and still have fun playing."

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