The Illinois men’s hockey team will have the opportunity to do something no other team in the history of the club’s program has ever done before – defend a National Championship.

The No. 4-ranked Illini enter this weekend’s American Collegiate Hockey Association’s national tournament in West Chester, Penn., as the defending ACHA National Champions after winning the title last year in Bensenville, Ill.

Coming off two blowout wins in their final home games last weekend against ACHA Division-II Minnesota the Illini are confident they have what it takes to make another run at the title.

“I feel good for the team,” senior captain Steve Krates said. “The team has come together a lot this last semester and we’ve really gelled as a team. When we put together a good 60-minutes we can beat pretty much anyone, and we realize what it takes to win a championship after winning the league tournament.”

After playing a tough second semester schedule in which the Illini went 11-5-1 and won its conference tournament, the team knows it is well prepared and has what it takes to bring the championship home for the second consecutive year.

“Our league tournament does a good job preparing us for the national tournament,” head coach Chad Cassel said. “I think both tournaments are very similar. You play three games in three days in the league tournament and at the national tournament you hope to play four games in four days. It’s a grind and a lot of hockey.”

With the possibility of playing four games over four days against the best teams the ACHA has to offer, Illinois realizes there is not a lot of room for mistakes and is looking to leave everything out on the ice.

“At the national tournament everybody gives 110 percent and there is no room for error,” Krates said. “It’s single-elimination so if you lose a game you’re done. It’s definitely a step up, and your nerves are always running. We’re just going to have to give it our all.”

The Illini come in as the No. 4-seed in tournament and will be the first team to take to the ice in the 16-team tournament as they meet No.13-seed Robert Morris College on Thursday at 10 a.m.

Illinois defeated the Eagles on the road 3-1 and 6-3 in the two teams’ only meetings back on Oct. 28-29.

“It’s the most difficult first game that we have ever had at the national tournament,” Cassel said. “We definitely have our work cut out for us and we can’t take anyone lightly. We’re going to have to play well to win.”

If the Illini can get by the Eagles, they would possibly have a rematch with long-time rival Iowa State in the second round, a team the Illini seniors have never lost to in their careers.

“I think we have to keep doing what we are doing,” senior Mike Roesch said. “We don’t want to change much but just continue to work a little harder. We’re going to have to take it one game at a time. We’re playing great right now and hopefully we can keep it up.”

If the Illini can maintain its work ethic and put together four solid games over the next four days, it should be in good shape and will have a good chance of bringing home its second ACHA title in the club’s history.

“Our expectations are to win four games in four days,” Cassel said. “We are going to have to come out and play our best hockey that we have played all year; as long as we do that good things will happen for us.”