They can skate.

They can shoot.

They can dish it out and take it. And you couldn't call yourself a hockey player without spending time in the penalty box.

They are Carolina hockey players--the club hockey team that is.

Like other club teams, these guys pay a lot of money to play a lot of games and stay up late just trying to win.

Ian Brinkley said this club team is different from the rest.

"We don't really look at ourselves as a club sport here," Brinkley said. "We're the only hockey team, whereas a lot of the other club sports have a varsity team. So we look at ourselves mostly as a hockey team, not the club hockey team, but the hockey team at North Carolina."

But why put yourself through getting checked into the boards?

"We just do it for the love of the game actually," Brinkley said.

Winger Luke Russ had another take.

"I think it's the few fans that come out that we know really love the game, that's the only reason they're here," Russ said. "Take the drive from campus, come out and watch us play. We just want to please them because we know it may not be the basketball team, you know, top 10 in the nation, but we're out here just trying to make them have a fun night."

The crowd might be small, but those who come out love watching this team.

And the players, well, they sure don't play for the chance to earn big money one day.

Club ice hockey is still completely a volunteer sport, so virtually anyone could play, although some hockey experience is definitely required.