SASL

SASL (Simple Authentication and Security Layer) is an authentication mechanism across different IRC networks. It allows identification to services (NickServ) during the connection process, before anything else happens. As such, it eliminating the need to /msg NickServ identify.
To use SASL, you must first register your nickname (/msg NickServ REGISTER YourPassword youremail@example.com).

In IceChat 9 connection with SASL is part of the server editor. It is described on the SASL/ IRCv3 tab.