When the 2010-11 college hockey season started, Worcester State coach John Guiney was not quite sure what to expect. He and assistant coaches John Coughlin and Marvin Degon had worked hard to bring in new players who, they hoped, would bring a new, hardworking attitude to the Lancers.

Coughlin spent a weekend recruiting at the Western States Hockey League showcase in Las Vegas, coming back with a wealth of information and six players who were interested in attending Worcester State. Guiney found a two-time All-America junior college goalie in Pennsylvania. They knew they had talent; now the question became would they work together and would the talent translate to the collegiate game?

So far, the answers are a resounding yes and yes.

The Lancers are off to their best start in years, posting a 5-2-3 record and a 4-1-1 mark in the MASCAC, putting them in a tie for first with UMass-Dartmouth.

Perhaps even more impressive was the trio of wins the Lancers recorded over a span of eight days, knocking off Fitchburg State, Westfield State and Salem State.

The win over Salem was the first in 44 games for Worcester. Prior to Saturday's 5-4 win, the only other point the Lancers had against the Vikings was a tie last year.

"The guys are just playing great. To get a win over a team like Salem just shows how far we have come quickly," Guiney said. "Really, to beat Fitchburg, Westfield and Salem in the same week is probably unheard of for most teams. It's quite an accomplishment."

Guiney added that since a large part of the team is not from New England, they do not understand just how good the Salems and Fitchburgs are, and therefore have no fear of them.

Goalie Bryan Kalczynski is one of those players. A two-time All-America junior college goalie while playing for Erie Community College, Kalczynski has been brilliant for the Lancers. The Tonawanda, N.Y., native has a 4-1-2 record with a 2.63 GAA and a .934 save percentage.

He was huge in the wins over Fitchburg State and Salem State, making 50 saves against the Falcons and 39 against the Vikings.

Fellow newcomers Brendan Galley (5-3-8) and Derek Serbon (3-4-7) have been offensive threats for the Lancers. Guiney said the newcomers have provided a work ethic, energy and a spark to the program.

"They have worked really hard, right from day one," he said. "When you get guys working hard, everyone works hard."

The newcomers aren't the only ones playing great right now. Junior Nick Asterio leads the team with 3-13-16 totals, while junior John Calahane (6-5-11) netted all four goals against Westfield and assisted on the winning goal against Salem State. Senior captain Chris Wallin (6-6-12) had the best game of his Worcester career, scoring all three goals in the win over Fitchburg State. Sophomore forward Tim D'Orazio (3-4-7) has been a steady contributor.

Perhaps most impressive has been how the Lancers, with just one senior in the lineup, have handled close games. Worcester is 4-2-3 in games decided by a goal or less.

The red-hot Lancers are off until Jan. 6 when they take on Becker after the holiday break.

"We expect to win every game, and that's a huge change for us," Guiney said. "It's been a lot of fun — not just the winning, but the way the team plays and the attitude and focus they bring every day."