After falling to Georgetown in the 2012-2013 Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League championship game, N.C. State club hockey is looking to reclaim a title after a three-year drought.

Thus far, the team is a perfect 3-0 with wins against George Mason, Clemson and Wake Forest.

The team plays in the American Collegiate H ockey Association, under a Division-II ranking in the ACCHL conference.

State, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, Elon, Georgetown, Navy, George Washington and Wake Forest compile the members of the ACCHL.

“I think we’re just as good as some D-I clubs,” junior goaltender Nick Kamaris. “If we had the budget to get the ice time and training facilities, we’d be a lot better. But I think we’re pretty good for where we are.”

“It’s exciting and fast pace hockey—it’s not what you’d expect in the South. It’s definitely not as popular as it is up north, but we definitely have a good team.”

According to sophomore defenseman Andrew Cooke, a lot of players from last season are on the team.

“We’re just improving after last year,” Cooke said. “We have pretty much the same team. We know how to play together now, we’re just working on the little things.”

“We want to win the ACC championship, that’s our team goal, especially after last year.”

The team is led by head coach Mike Gazzillo, who has been with the team since the 2010 season. Previously to coaching the Pack, Gazzillo served as an assistant coach at UNC-Chapel Hill and coached in many different levels while residing in New York.

According to sophomore forward Garrett Sunda, the University doesn’t require the squad to have a coach, since it’s a student run club, but said Gazzillo’s contributions are essential to the team’s success.

“He handles a lot for us and we’re really thankful for all he does,” Sunda said. “We do need him to be on the bench for us.”

“He does a great job of running practice, coming up with drills and keeping us focused.”

The team practices four times during the week, twice at Raleigh Center Ice, and two off-ice sessions on campus.

According to Kamaris, earning a spot on the team is competitive, but the team does carry healthy scratches throughout the year.

“We have a huge roster, but we don’t necessarily play everybody,” Kamaris said. “To play on the team, you have to be constantly pretty good. You probably have to be one of the better players on your [previous] club team.”

Although the team participates in the ACCHL, against non-NCAA teams, the players said they have the tools to be highly competitive this year, possibly enough to earn a spot at regionals, or nationals.

“I think if we play our best game against the good teams, like Liberty, Delaware, Navy and Georgetown … if we win those four games, the other ones we should definitely win,” Kamaris said. “If we went on a good run, we could go undefeated.”

State will play in 28 more games this season and participate in four tournaments: the UNCC, Liberty, Stephen Russel and ACC tournament.

The Pack will be back in action on Saturday, at home, against rival UNC in its first ACCHL conference match up.

Puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m at Raleigh Center Ice.