Hockey ‘family’ heads to national competition

By Dan Berrigan

The winningest senior class in Illini hockey history has one more shot left at capturing their one goal – a national championship.

Illinois enters the 16-team single-elimination tournament a No. 4 seed and will face No. 13 Washington & Jefferson in the opening round this afternoon in Bensenville, Ill.

“The team in general is very excited to be involved in the national tournament, especially after the way we performed at the league tournament,” junior forward Steve Krates said. “(Losing in the finals) left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, and we’re all ready to show how we can really play.”

The Illini lost to Ohio in the league finals 5-1. Krates said the team was lacking intensity and focus when it came to performing the routine plays.

“We’ve stressed those weaknesses a lot in practice these past two weeks,” Krates said. “We’ve been spending more time on what’s important – defensive zone and special teams – because that is what wins championships.”

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Illini head coach Chad Cassel said the team has plenty of confidence heading into nationals this weekend, and the bottom line is if the team works hard, Illinois has a good chance of winning. Krates said the largest advantage Illinois has over its opponents has been its unity. All the Illini players have become good friends over the last five months, and he said he’s never been a part of a group this close.

“Since the first day the team practiced, we’ve all become best friends and are a lot closer off the ice (compared to past years),” he said. “The camaraderie on this year’s team is better than any I’ve been on in my 16 years of playing hockey.”

The veteran leadership is what set the Illini apart from other teams in the tournament. The younger players watch and respect them on and off the ice.

“The veterans have been a lot more open with them and supportive of them,” Krates said. “We’ll hang out with them off the ice whether day or night.”

Every weekend the whole team is together hanging out and not just a couple players scattered among cliques, Krates said. He said that because the team gets along so well, everyone looks forward to practices, and they push each other to work harder.

“We know we’re winning and losing as a team and that individual efforts won’t get us anywhere,” he said.

Krates and the rest of his hockey family embark on their one-game-at-a-time journey, which begins today against the Presidents.

At nationals, the Illini’s first hurdle is Washington & Jefferson – a team the Illini slipped by in nationals last year, 3-2. The Presidents (15-13-1) are ranked fourteenth in the country, but are the thirteenth seed due to Eastern Michigan’s post season ineligibility.

“It’s a one-game tournament for us and that’s the attitude we are taking with us,” Cassel said.