Games between Illinois (17-10-3, 37 pts.) and Illinois State (14-15-4, 32 pts.) always bring an elevated level of intensity. But this weekend, there’s more than bragging rights on the line between the in-state rivals.
The Midwest College Hockey Division playoffs are set to take place next weekend in Bloomington. While both teams have already punched their tickets, their seeds are yet to be determined.
The Redbirds, currently in second place, hold a one-point advantage over the Illini in the South Division. The Redbirds can lock up the No. 2 seed with a single regulation win, leaving the Illini with the No. 3 seed.
If Illinois ends up with the No. 3 seed, it would open the playoffs against a familiar foe: No. 5 Jamestown. The Jimmies pummeled the Illini in their October series, outscoring them 15-3.
If Illinois can find a way to earn the No. 2 seed, it would mean a meeting with No. 13 Mary. Unlike Jamestown, it would be the first matchup between the two teams this season. The tournament winner will earn a trip to the ACHA National Championships in March.
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This significant series against Illinois State, the last at the Ice Arena this season, carries with it a pair of theme nights: White Out on Friday and Senior Night on Saturday.
Ahead of Senior Night, The Daily Illini spoke with four seniors — goaltenders Nolan Woodring and Joseph Schmid, defenseman Luke Alpe and forward Bailey McCarthy — about their favorite memories playing for the Illini.
Woodring
“My favorite memory from my career would be winning a 19-round shootout against Alabama last season,” Woodring said. “(I) got to play against my junior hockey goalie partner and felt like it was a great bonding experience for the team. Also, I’ve always had fun with shootouts, so being able to do it with the pressure of letting a goal in you lose for that long was a feeling I’ll never be able to recreate.”
Joseph
“When I did live color commentary my freshman year,” Schmid said. “That was pretty fun getting to hype up the boys.”
Alpe
“I’d say my best hockey memory here at Illinois was probably my freshman year, starting our national tournament game as an 18-year-old freshman,” Alpe said. “That was something, going up against the team, where the youngest guy was probably about 21, 22, so it’s a little bit of a shock there, but that was probably my favorite memory here.”
McCarthy
“I think my favorite memory here with University of Illinois Hockey is never losing to Roosevelt,” McCarthy said.
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