For the love of the sport

early-morning hours at the Amherst Pepsi Center, the club hockey team practices for different reasons.

"I love the game and the camaraderie," said junior forward Bob Mowry. "I've been playing my whole life and I wasn't going to just give it up."

The Buffalo team, seeded second in the Eastern College Hockey league, will be heading to Rochester this weekend to battle third-seeded Niagara. This will be the third time this season the two teams have faced off, with Buffalo coming out victorious on both occasions.

Most recently, Buffalo (14-13 overall, 13-2 ECHL) downed the Purple Eagles at the Pepsi Center in its last regular season game. However, Friday night's game will send one team to the ECHL championship and the other team home.

The Buffalo skaters will know what to expect from Niagara (28-8-3, 12-4 ECHL), and they have proven they know how to beat them.

"We saw them live, we know what we need to do," said senior Ryan Donnelly.

The game time for the semi-final match is set for 4 p.m. on Friday at the Genesee Valley Ice Rink. The winning team will advance to the championship game Saturday night.

Junior Sean Smith is expected to lead the charge for Buffalo. Smith has scored 22 goals and had 24 assists this season. Smith said he attributes his individual success to the team, and has played with and against several of his teammates in the past.

"The guys on the team are really good guys," Smith said. "A lot of these guys I've known since high school."

Niagara comes into the game boasting the American Collegiate Hockey Association's second-leading scorer Mario Nucci, who has scored 35 goals and recorded 36 assists. Nucci is supported by teammate Brian Hartman who has 24 goals and 21 assists in only 19 games this season.

Six Buffalo players will lace up their skates this weekend for the last time while wearing the blue and white uniform, including standout goalie John Czaplinski. Czaplinski carries a goals-against average of 3.48, while opposing goaltender Parker Jones only boasts a 3.68 average.

The Buffalo coaching staff credits the team's success to the hard work and dedication of the players.

"They obviously have a talent that they have invested time and effort in," Baumgarten said. "They have a talent and they want to use it."

Baumgarten is in his second year with UB. Last season, he led the team to nationals for the first time in team history.

"He's an excellent coach," said senior forward Ryan Donnelly. "I couldn't ask for a better coach. If UB ever decides to go Division I (for hockey), I hope they would give him the spot."

While many varsity athletes have advantages that a club team doesn't, the club hockey team's coaching staff recognizes the players' desire to play for themselves and their teammates.

"Our big difference from a varsity hockey team is scholarships," said associate coach Joesph Metz. "Everything that these guys do is on their own. They get up for practice on their own accord, there is no worry about losing scholarships."

Senior defenseman and club president Garry Codick said that in order to be on the team, the players can't be afraid of hard work and early mornings.

"I think the intensity is definitely there," Codick said. "We have practice at 5:45 in the morning. If people weren't dedicated they wouldn't be showing up."

Buffalo held its season's final practice Thursday morning, and according to Baumgarten his team is ready for the post-season challenges that lay ahead.

"I think the boys are going to play well. Practice looked crisp," Baumgarten said. "The guys are focused and paying attention to the details. I think we will come out well against Niagara."

A Buffalo win on Friday would send them to the ECHL finals to play the winner of No. 1 Mercyhurst and No. 4 Robert Morris on Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Due to regular season standings, even if the team manages an ECHL championship, Buffalo will not be able to advance to national tournament.