Atlanta Knights' bench boss Scott Fankhouser knows a thing or two about the game of hockey. He knows the hard realities of the hockey dream ('94 St. Louis Blues draft pick, 23 NHL Games), he knows what it feels like to lose, and most of all; he knows what it feels like to win. Yes, he has winning down to a science and has been able to install that attribute into the hearts of his Atlanta Knights players.

Despite returning only nine players, Fankhouser has coached his team to another regular season title, the EJ-South playoff championship, and now right back to Rochester to defend their 2012 USA Hockey Tier III National Championship.

Jordan Simmonds (F-16g, 23a, 39pts), George Gerasimou (F-13,23a,36pts), Nick Webb (F-9g, 12a, 21pts),  Jeremy Bost(D-5g, 8a, 13pts), Brent Wilcox (D-4g, 9a, 13pts), Joseph Panek (D- 3a), and Brandon Haase (G-14-4-0-1, 2.26 GAA, .917 SV% ) were the Knights' leading returners from last year's National Championship team.

Atlanta is also peaking at just the right time. After losing two of three at Hampton Roads back in February, the Knights closed the regular season with ten straight wins before running through the playoffs undefeated.  

As the Knights are preparing to defend their National title, they are focusing on their own game and not the potential pool-play matchups in Rochester.

Atlanta's pool play opponents are the Eastern States Hockey League's Boch Blazers, either the Helena Bighorns or Yellowstone Quake from the American West Hockey League, and one of four teams (including 2012 finalist Long Island Royals) from the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League.

Unlike past USA Hockey Tier III Championship events, this tournament does not have a host team and every team present is a league champion. Every game reflects on the caliber of play in each of the leagues that is represented.  Atlanta is carrying the weight of the entire league with them to Minnesota.

"Atlanta's success is important to us all," Florida Eels GM Frank Scarpaci said on Thursday. "We all need Atlanta to do well because it effects how every team is going to be able to recruit for next season."

USA Hockey's Junior Tier III National Championship is April 4-8 in Rochester, Minnesota.