Illini hockey outmatch Rochester College in two-game sweep
By Ethan Swanson
January 24, 2016
In its first home series of 2016, Illinois (15-10-3) managed to net 11 goals over the weekend against Rochester College (12-13-1) compared to just seven goals over its last four games.Even more notable, the Illini didn’t have to rely on the usual sophomore duo of Eric Cruickshank and James Mcging to c...
Illinois reaches critical weekend for conference play
By Ethan Swanson
December 2, 2015
Tweet: [email protected] looks to make a jump in the conference standings this weekend against Robert Morris UniversityThe Illinois hockey team had last weekend off due to the Thanksgiving holiday festivities and feasts — a break the Illini desperately needed after their 8-0 loss to Lindenwood Univ...
Illinois hockey welcoming back big-name players
By Cole Henke
November 9, 2015
After several weeks of playing without multiple key players, the Illinois hockey team seems to be getting over its injury bug.Captain John Olen, forward Mike Fischer, center Josh Belmont, defensemen Austin Zima and winger Kyle Varzino are all planning on returning to the ice this weekend against Iowa...
Illinois hockey can’t afford to overlook Division II Indiana
By Ethan Swanson
November 5, 2015
Whatever the Illinois hockey team found in its near-sweep of then-No. 2 Ohio University Bobcats Oct 23-24 seemed to be lost again after a brutal 7-1 loss to an Illinois State team that was ranked No. 40 out of only 55 teams in the Division I tier of the ACHA.With the Illini (7-5) struggling to prove their legitimac...
Illinois hockey embarrassed by Illinois State
By Cole Henke
November 1, 2015
The Illinois hockey team took care of business Friday night.Its game Saturday was a completely different story.Illinois State (5-9-1-1) ran Illinois (7-3-1-1) out of the rink Saturday with a 7-1 Redbirds win.The Redbirds were not supposed to be a challenge for the Illini. The Illini were ranked No. 13 in...
Shutout and shootout help Illini hockey to statement weekend
By Ethan Swanson
October 25, 2015
Prior to last weekend, Illinois was a team still searching to justify its No. 13 ranking in the ACHA preseason poll.With early injuries to key players Aaron Dusek, Joey Caprio and last season’s point leader John Olen, Illinois (6-2-2) was faced with its toughest test of the season on Homecoming we...
By any other name: Illinois hockey nicknames
By Cole Henke
October 7, 2015
Talking to Illinois hockey players can be confusing for somebody who hasn’t been around the team much.Most of the players refer to each other by nicknames. Some are just shortened versions of the players’ last names, and sometimes they are hard to decipher. Some have good stories behind them.Some...
A conversation with an Illini: Austin Zima
By Kevin McCarthy
September 29, 2015
As smooth as he is on the ice, apparently he’s even smoother on the dance floor — Illini defenseman Austin Zima sat down to talk with me about everything from my flow to his beard.Kevin McCarthy: You guys got your butts handed to you on Saturday night against the Oklahoma Sooners. What happ...
Illinois Hockey swept by Oklahoma in first road games
By Cole Henke
September 27, 2015
Illinois Hockey was very confused when it left Norman, Oklahoma, this weekend.The Illini (2-1-1-0) played right with the Sooners (2-1-1-0) in the first game on Friday night. Matching Oklahoma’s physicality, Illinois tied the game late and sent it to overtime with a goal from senior forward John Ole...
Illinois hockey prepares to face off against Oklahoma
By Cole Henke
September 23, 2015
When Illinois hockey plays Oklahoma, bad memories tend to resurface with the veteran Illini.According to junior captain Austin Zima, whenever the team talks about the Sooners, the conversation always goes back to the 2014 ACHA tournament, when the Sooners eliminated the Illini.“They ground us into a...
Illinois hockey to open season against Michigan State
By Ethan Swanson
September 16, 2015
The Illinois hockey team enters Friday’s home-opener 0-0-0, and no one is more thankful for a clean slate than the Illini players and coaches.Last weekend, the Illini traveled to Springfield, Illinois, to take on the Jr. Blues — a Tier II Junior A team of the North American Hockey League — f...
Illini of the Week Oct. 22: Joe Olen
By Daniel Dexter
October 22, 2014
Goalie Joe Olen needed his teammates to bail him out. Midway through the third period, the Illinois hockey team found itself down by two goals against Michigan-Dearborn at the Illinois Ice Arena. Then with less than four minutes to go in the game, the Illini clawed their way back. Defenseman Austin Z...
