Buffalo State head ice hockey coach Nick Carriere will serve as the assistant coach with the Western Boys Ice Hockey Team at this week's Empire State Games in Westchester. Carriere will work with Canisius College head coach Dave Smith.

Carriere will look to help lead the team comprised of several top players from the Buffalo and Rochester areas to its seventh consecutive gold medal at the games.

The Western team will open the Games against Adirondack on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.