After scraping the Billikens of Saint Louis University off the ice last weekend, the Illinois men’s hockey club is set to finish off a six-game home stand when it welcomes the eighth-ranked Michigan-Dearborn Wolves to the “Big Pond” this weekend.

While Ohio University has been crowned the Central States Collegiate Hockey League regular season champions, the Illini know there is still plenty to play for in the coming weeks leading up to postseason tournaments.

“We have Dearborn this weekend and then Iowa State,” head coach Chad Cassel said. “Those games are going to decide where we end up for league playoffs, so it’s important that we win all four games and it starts Friday night.”

The Illini currently sit third in the CSCHL conference standing and fourth in the ACHA national rankings. But Illinois can improve its seeding for both the CSCHL tournament and ACHA National tournament with wins over both Michigan-Dearborn and Iowa State.

“Obviously the seeding for the National tournament is a big deal,” junior goaltender Mike DeGeorge said. “These games are going to have a large impact on us if we drop all the way to a No. 10 seed or all the way back up to a two or three seed. Michigan-Dearborn is in our league so they’re going to be big games. Plus we’re going to see all these teams at Nationals, so we are going to have to come out strong.”

The Wolves (20-11-2) enter this weekend just four points behind the Illini in the CSCHL standings, but have won the last two meetings between the clubs back on Jan. 14-15 of last year.

However, while Michigan-Dearborn experienced success against the Illini last season, its stream of success has not been flowing well as of late. The Wolves are currently winless in their last five games, posting two ties and three losses.

“Dearborn always plays us tough,” DeGeorge said. “We were in a little bit of a slump too, but now we’re battling out of it. It doesn’t matter what they’re going to throw at us, we have to concentrate on what we need to do get ready.”

The Illini will also have an added incentive for winning this weekend besides just looking to improve its seeding for its upcoming tournaments.

Illinois players and coaches will be looking to impress a few special Illini, as the team welcomes home former Illini hockey players and coaches for its annual alumni weekend.

Festivities for the weekend include a luncheon at the Illini Union, the Annual Alumni Blue and White “old-timers” game and an after game get-together for both former and current players and coaches.

“Our fans are great, but it’s even better when you have the alumni here,” DeGeorge said. “So we obviously have extra motivation because we have a lot of family and friends coming back into town for this weekend, and anytime they’re here you go out and give it your all.”

The annual blue versus white alumni game is free to the public and will be held before the game against Michigan-Dearborn on Saturday, with face-off set for 4:20 p.m. at the University Ice Arena.

“The old-timers game is always a fun time,” DeGeorge said. “We’ve played with these guys and grown up with them, so it’s just fun seeing them out at the bars and out on the ice with us.”