While the NIU men’s basketball team has had its ups and downs, one men’s team at NIU has consistently won its games.

The Huskie club hockey team has raced out to a 14-3-1 record and ranks as one of the top teams in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association. NIU whacked Wheaton College 5-1 Friday night, then swatted Southern Illinois 7-2 Saturday.

Center George Tselios wasted no time getting the Hawks on the board against SIU, scoring a goal in the first 0:07 to give the Huskies momentum throughout the contest.

“We were really hungry for the win,” said senior forward Dan Gudovic. “As soon as we scored that first goal, we dominated and took over the game.”

With the season winding down, the Huskies look forward to the playoffs, where the teams with the top four records will battle it out. NIU will need to start playing its best hockey in order to be ready for a possible showdown with Illinois State.

The Huskies believe their success this season stems from the fact that not one player dominates the stat sheet. Junior center Eric DiCarlo leads the team with 19 goals and 17 assists, while freshman wing Ken Kopulos has 13 goals and junior center Eric Dorsam has 11 scores. Tselios has tallied 9 goals and 15 assists. NIU rotates three goalies, Dave Grossman, J.P. Michaels and Jason Mata and have allowed just 3-4 goals a contest.

“We really work as a team — [there’s] not an individual that takes over,” Gudovic said. “Everyone knows how to work as a team.”

The other key to NIU’s success are intangibles. Things like being the first man to the puck, which other teams might overlook, Gudovic said.

While his team’s effort this weekend pleased coach Bill Thorn, he still believes his team could be playing better. But when his team clicks, Thorn believes they can outmatch anyone.

“Five-on-five, nobody will beat us,” Thorn said.