"So Far, So Good for Bulls Hockey"

Perhaps one of the sharpest UB athletic teams on campus isn't even Division I-A.

Despite being tagged with the label "club sport," the Buffalo Ice Bulls are proving without a shadow of a doubt that they are as legit as can be.

Already off to a 9-5-0 record (5-0-0 Eastern Collegiate Hockey League), the Ice Bulls hope that they can keep playing as well all the way into the playoffs.

"Basically right now we are trying to stay undefeated as long as possible," said sophomore forward Brian Cocco. "That is our goal, just to win one game at a time. We want to win our Division in the ACHA."

The ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) is a club hockey league, divided into three men's divisions and one women's division. The league allows colleges who can't afford to have a varsity program to have a club hockey team. And although the athletes are required to pay to play, the league is considered by many to be the most organized club league in the nation.

The UB squad is comprised of six seniors, nine juniors, five sophomores and five freshmen. A nice mix of different age groups will have this team competing fiercely beyond this season.

Cocco thinks that having a young team is part of UB's early success.

"I think a lot of the newer kids we have this year have good chemistry with (the veterans)," said Cocco. "We've got some good talent with them this year."

The team's style is considered very physical and sometimes undisciplined, and on any other team that might cost the team games. However, the Ice Bulls can afford to run over teams like Slippery Rock, hit hard and fight because they can still remain focused enough to put the puck in the net.

Goaltending is another strong point of the team. Senior Adam Golder is having another excellent season and is tied for second in Division I with six wins.

"He is excellent," said Cocco. "He was an All-American a couple years back. He's saved us in a couple of games."

Buffalo's big men up front are juniors Sean Moskal (nine goals) and Bill Mosler who leads the team with 11 goals. Thomas Pawlak, who is considered "the big guy," does a good job screening the opposing goalie, and is also a good hitter.

The defense, although young, is a solid group as well.

"Our defense is all good," said Cocco. "It's hard to pick out a weak player on defense. Last year we came in with three or four defensemen in our freshman class. Most of them are still here. Ryan Donnelly, Pete Miller, Garry Codick. They give us a great defense. There have been a lot of injuries lately though."

The Ice Bulls only trail Niagara in the standings, but that is because the Purple Eagles have played two more games than Buffalo and currently sit at 7-0 in the conference.

While the showdown with the Purple Eagles looms on Sunday in Niagara, UB must first go through the University of Rochester tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Rochester.