This weekend the No. 1-ranked Illini will be hosting rival Ohio University in what should be a great series as the season starts to wind down.

Senior Alex Park said this weekend will be be a sign of what is yet to come.

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“This weekend, I think this’ll be a good indication of how the end of the year is going to turn out for us,” Park said. “You know if we can do well this weekend, hopefully we just keep our confidence going right through the end of the year.”

Coach Cassel said he is expecting two great games this weekend against a respectable Ohio team.

“I would say that Ohio is our biggest rival,” Cassel said. “We’ve seem to battle it out the last 5 or 6 years as far as regular season and tournament championship.”

This weekend also marks the return of sophomore J.J. Heredia after suffering a broken leg before the season began.

The game starts at 7p.m. at the Ice Arena Friday and Saturday, and can be heard on WPGU 107.1 FM starting with the pre-game show at 6 p.m.