New York, NY -- The New York University hockey team burst out of the gates this season with an 8-0-2 record, winning their first six games. Even though hockey is a club sport, NYU has beaten two Division 1 teams so far this season. Strengthened by talented new freshmen and other new players, the Violets have outscored their opponents 73-26 in the 10 games played.
"We're solid this year. We have four lines of excellent skaters, fast skaters," junior captain Ben Maniere said.
Two years ago, the team finished 16th in the nation. Last year, despite an injury-plagued season in which they lost two goalies, they improved to ninth place. This year, they hope to take first.
"We could have done better. We plan to do better this year," Maniere said.
The team has four goalies, which are "the foundation of our team," Maniere said.
One goalie, Jay Lee, a graduate student in the School of Denistry, suffered a collapsed lung recently, something that is not uncommon for very thin athletes like Lee, according to Maniere.
"We should win the whole thing. It really depends on injuries," fellow junior and co-Captain Ryan Hughes said.
The games are mostly high-scoring. NYU beat Rider College 12-0 in the beginning of the season, and put away Division 1 Drexel University, 10-5, at the end of October.
"There are a lot of power plays and penalty kills that lead to a lot of goals," Hughes said.
One thing the captain said his team needs to work on is discipline. They should be more careful, he said, and not give up so many penalties. Their goal this year is to win the national tournament. Once they get there, they will have to play much tighter hockey.
"One mistake leads to a goal. That's the difference when you play at that level. The team that makes the least mistakes will win," Hughes said.
The team is confident, but foresee an extremly competitive season ahead.
"Life University will be a big test," Hughes said.
The team's next game is this Sunday at home at Chelsea Piers against Central Connecticut State University.
"It's wild," Maniere said, describing the games. "They're exciting games. They're good games. If you like hockey, it's better than anything around here. It's good college hockey."
Maniere's father shows up at the games with his trumpet, cheering on the team and plays God Bless America for the crowd before games. This year, the team will host the American Collegiate Hockey Association's Division II National Championship Tournament.
Life University has won four of the past five tournaments. The tournament runsf rom Feb. 27 to March 2, and will be played at Chelsea Piers.