UB men's hockey: Down but not out

Despite its 10-2 start to the season, men’s ice hockey head coach Sal Valvo believes his team has yet to play to its full potential.

Buffalo has a slew of injuries, as five players are currently out of the lineup. The team has even started two defensemen at forward.

Even with the injuries, the Bulls (10-2, 3-0 Northeast Collegiate Hockey Association) have not only found a way to win, but win frequently. Buffalo is currently ranked No. 14 in the American Collegiate Hockey League heading into this weekend’s matchup against No. 23 Niagara (6-3, 5-0 NECHL).

The team’s success is because of its depth, according to Valvo.

“Everyone has played well and contributed,” Valvo said. “Guys that were on that fifth line in the preseason have been very useful killing penalties, getting power play time and chipping in goals.”

One player that has stepped up and contributed is sophomore forward Brad Tardif.

Tardif, formally a member of Buffalo’s Division III squad, received a call from Valvo in early September to join the team.

In the Bulls’ 9-2 victory over Robert Morris (9-1) Sept. 26, Tardif netted a goal and an assist in his debut on the Division I team. He has four goals and four assists in 10 games.

“Last year my main goal was to make the D-1 team. When I didn’t I was disappointed, but I just kept working hard to try and get better and be the best player I could be,” Tardif said. “When I got the call up from Sal it honestly was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had in my life. Getting a couple games under my belt with the big boys – it’s nice to see things are working out.”

Valvo said Buffalo’s biggest surprise performance has come from its goaltending.

Mike Musialowski, last year’s starting goaltender, graduated. Freshman goaltender Tyler Stark and senior goaltender Dylan Arnold have both replaced Musialowski and played phenomenal in net, according to Valvo. Stark and Arnold rank No. 10 and 11 in the ACHA in goals against average, respectively. Arnold has two shutouts this season and Stark has one.

“They’ve been really good and our ‘D’ has stepped up and done what we’ve asked,” Valvo said. “Play ‘D’ first and the goals will come. That’s exactly what’s happened.”

One player that has bought into Valvo’s defense-first mentality to the ice is junior forward Luke Swimline.

Buffalo’s three-time captain Timmy Root graduated and the Bulls needed a penalty killing forward. Swimline accepted the role.

“Before Timmy left, before his last game, he told me I had to take over his job,” Swimline said. “I take pride in penalty killing. I don’t score many goals so I have to do something well.”

Swimline has eight points in 12 games. Six of his points are from assists.

“Never said anything about assists,” Swimline said with a laugh. “I dish the puck to the goal scorers – I let them do their thing.”

Buffalo has 54 goals in 12 games this season – an average of 4.5 goals per game. The team defeated No. 26 Mercyhurst (6-4) twice this year after not beating Mercyhurst in the previous four seasons.

Both of the Bulls’ losses came against No. 7 Rhode Island, 3-1 and 5-1, respectively. Valvo believes the team played well despite the outcomes. At one point in the third period of Buffalo’s 5-1 loss, the score was 2-1 and Rhode Island hadn’t gotten a shot on net in over 13 minutes.

“Even though the Rhode Island games were losses, in the 5-1 game it’s kind of weird – we dominated that game,” Valvo said. “The score should’ve been reversed. Not that our goaltending didn’t play well, we just didn’t get any puck luck or bounces … It’s good to see that we could not only compete but outperform them.”

Sophomore forward Bobby Piotrowicz leads Buffalo with seven goals and nine assists. Senior forward Michael Schalberg and junior forward Willie Sanchez each have two game-winning goals.

Individuals can make game-changing plays, but the Bulls’ overall success this season stems from their ability to play as a team, according to Swimline.

“This year we’re playing with a lot more with passion than previous years,” Swimline said. “Previous years we had all the skill to be a great team and win a lot of games. But this year everybody is chipping in. All the lines are scoring, everybody is blocking shots, the goaltenders are playing amazing. It’s just been a real team effort.”

The team plays Niagara this Friday for the first time since being eliminated by the Purple Eagles from the NECHL playoffs last season.

“It’s going to be a bloodbath,” Tardif said. “They hate us, we hate them.”

The game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Northtown Center – just a walk across Millersport Highway from UB’s North Campus. A Halloween costume contest will take place between the second and third periods.

“We just need to keep playing the way we’ve been playing,” Swimline said. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves or get excited just because it’s Niagara. It’ll be a fun one to watch. We’re ready to go and put on a good show for the fans.”

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