The falling temperatures signify not only the start of autumn, but also the start of the ice hockey season. The N.C . State club ice hockey team has been practicing for weeks and is ready to begin its season this Friday.

The ACCHL consists of collegiate club hockey teams across the Southeast, including Duke, Georgetown, George Washington, Maryland, N.C . State, North Carolina, and Virginia. This season, the team found a new home at the Cary Ice House due to uncertainty and the near closure of their former home in Raleigh, the RecZone . Sophomore goaltender Sean Kudrick noted how the team prepared for the season.

“We tried to get ice time as individuals to stay in shape and maintain an active lifestyle,” Kudrick said.

Kudrick also highlighted the team starting off the season with tough competition and needing to be ready to play.

“We need to be prepared to play tough teams because our first two games are against UNC and then Maryland,” Kudrick said. “Both teams lost to us in the playoffs last season so they will come out of the gate ready for some pay back.”

In the ACCHL championship game last season, the underdog Wolfpack came from behind and defeated the Terrapins 6-5 in overtime.

Fortunately for the team, they didn’t lose a single player this offseason and added several new players.

“There are about five or six new players on the team, all freshmen, and the rest of the guys from last season,” Kudrick said. “We didn’t lose a single player; we even have a player this season that was in grad school last year.”

Sophomore forward Tom Stryker has been impressed with the number of quality players on the team.

“From our practices, I can see we have added depth to the team and working to have four solid lines,” Stryker said. “Each line has what it takes to be a solid team.”

Kudrick pinpointed the team’s biggest strength.

“Our biggest strength as a team would be our ability to play together starting with the goalkeeping and ending with the offense.” Kudrick said.

Sophomore defenseman Tyler Cloutier agreed.

“The unity of the team and chemistry on the ice is pretty good and very tight,” Cloutier added. “Everyone has the same focus and we have a lot of good players this year. The whole team came back from last year, and this year we are going to be better.”

Cloutier and the team have set a high, but obtainable goal for the season.

“The goal is to win back-to-back championships, get ranked, and go to regionals,” Cloutier said.

Stryker hoped the team could construct a season similar to last year.

“Last year, we were able to have a stellar year, had great coaching and we bonded as a group,” Stryker said. “I hope we can have the same thing, come together as a solid unit and recreate what we had last year in winning the ACCHL and take the tournament home for a second year.

Kudrick stressed the importance of the team being mentally and physically prepared to reach its goal of repeating as ACCHL champs.

“If the team wants to win the ACCHL championship game again, we will need to be prepared to defend that title every minute of every game because all the teams will want to take that away from us and will do everything in their power to make sure we lose,” Kudrick said. “So we just need to be mentally and physically prepared to take on a challenge every game no matter who our opponent is.”

This Friday, the N.C. State club ice team will begin its title defense against rival North Carolina at home starting at 10 p.m.