The Illinois campus has been back to its normal school year buzz for almost six weeks now.

With the initial flow of tests already hitting many students this week, the Illini hockey players have finally moved back in. 

Not into their dorms or apartments or houses, but into their home arena. 

The Illini started out their season without a home, but are finally back in the University Ice Arena. Dealing with mechanical issues, the Big Pond was closed down for about a month, causing head coach Nick Fabbrini and his squad to hit the road for practice. The team definitely seemed to have high spirits and energy levels coming back to their home ice already having a 3-0 record.

“(Being home) is definitely a lot better than Danville, no disrespect to Danville, but no 45-minute commute each way and getting to get dressed in our own room here, it’s just a lot more comfortable,” Fabbrini said. 

Not only do the Illini finally get to hold practice on their home ice, but this weekend marks their first set of home games as they get set to host Michigan State. This weekend will be Michigan State’s season opener, so besides the different rink size, Fabbrini says the game plan should stay the same. 

Junior center John Olen has been one the offensive catalysts so far this season for Illinois, but his duties on the ice go further than getting shots on net. Olen is the team captain, and early in the year, Fabbrini has stressed discipline as one the team’s main issues. Part of the responsibility to correct bad penalties will fall on the captain’s shoulders. 

“We’ve been getting in trouble talking to the refs and talking back so we’ll leave that to coach or myself,” Olen said. “Limiting ourselves from taking dumb penalties, penalties on power plays or just retaliation penalties, so that has to come from me or coach to hammer down on the discipline.” 

With the hope of cutting down on bad penalties, Illinois will look to keep their offense firing on all cylinders heading into the weekend. According to Fabbrini, the Illini struggled most last season on the offensive end; early in this season that seems to have been fixed already. Illinois has netted 14 goals through three games, but the captain still sees room for improvement on the attack.

“We can still work out a few things on the power play, we had a couple power plays this weekend we didn’t capitalize on,” Olen said. 

Michigan State will be viewed as an opponent Illinois is supposed to beat because of its ACHA Division 2 standing, but they’ve proved to be a tough match up in recent history. The past two seasons Illinois has beaten the Spartans twice in regulation, won another game in a shootout and lost the fourth. The Spartans also return 20 players, so inexperience won’t be something working against them. 

While Michigan State should come into the Big Pond excited to get its season rolling, the Illini are just happy to be home.

“Oh I’m so happy,” said Olen laughing. “We’re excited for the home games coming up this weekend.”

Brett can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @Blerner10.