In the days ahead of its series against Roosevelt, several Illinois hockey players found themselves on the Main Quad. The team participated in a fundraiser in collaboration with the Illini Ice Girls, who are raising money for a women’s shelter. Players lined up to get pies to the face to reel in donations for the cause.
“This is just good for the team,” said senior goaltender Nolan Woodring. “It will help raise some funds (to) support a good cause and the Ice Girls help us out a lot, so we’re happy to come out with them here.”
Besides raising money for a good cause, some players saw on-ice benefits to the event.
“It gets the spirits up and helps with team bonding and team chemistry,” said freshman defenseman Kyle Mraz. “We get closer together, and it gets all the guys going.”
After losing a pair of one-goal games against Minot State last weekend, a boost in team chemistry may be all the Illini need to turn things around.
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Roosevelt, meanwhile, has only played one game so far this season. The Lakers lost their first matchup against Davenport last weekend.
Even though there isn’t much tape available, the team still has a plan.
“They’re big and slow, we know that,” Mraz said. “We can use our speed to beat them and take it one shift at a time.”
In net, Woodring has posted a 2.33 goals against average and a .916 save percentage while playing every minute of the season. He looks to do more of the same this weekend against the Lakers.
“I’m just going to play as well as I can, take that short side away, keep it simple and play the puck as much as I can,” Woodring said. “I’m a big fan of playing the puck, so I’ll try to help my defense with the breakouts and communicate a little bit better than I did last weekend.”
Woodring, a native of Downers Grove, will be playing in front of his family. He’ll get additional cheering from the stands since the Illini travel north to Bensenville for the second game.
“I’m excited to stay at home for the second game,” Woodring said. “I’ll be commuting to the arena from there, which is a good feeling. There’s also the pressure of having family come, but I love that pressure.”
The first game will be at the UI Ice Arena on Friday night. The series closes at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville. The puck drop for both games is at 7 p.m.
