Illini looking for
revenge after surprise Wis. upset
Because the Illini Hockey Club broke
the rule of never losing at home against Wisconsin-Whitewater Oct.
21, it will be looking to "return the favor two-fold" this weekend,
said Illini head coach Chad Cassel.
Despite a game where team assistant captain Matt Katsaros said his
players played the hardest they've played all year in the last five
minutes of the third period, the Warhawks came out with the 7-5 win.
Although the Illini lost to No. 1 ranked Eastern Michigan Oct. 27,
the Illini have gone without a loss since those final five minutes
against Whitewater.
Cassel said it is a different Illini team that will play a two-game
series in Whitewater on Friday and Saturday night.
"We're a much better team than we were a month ago when we saw Whitewater,"
Cassel said. "It's going to take a big effort because they're a really
talented team."
According to the Illini, the Warhawks are a team that will never give
up, no matter what the score is.
"They come out very big against us," said sophomore forward Brian
Tilden. "They consider us their archrival — even though we look at
Iowa State that way. This year, they think they can beat us and they
want to beat us."
In the past years, the Illini have not been able to walk away from
games against Whitewater with significant leads. Each game has been
a one or two goal game.
Junior goaltender Gregg Cooper said the key to winning the games this
weekend lies in the first period.
"We have to come out right away and be ready to play right from the
beginning," Cooper said. "We've just got to play them physical and
just take the game to them and if we sit back and relax, then they
will just jump all over us and we know that."
Although there are about four months left in the season, the Illini
said they are always thinking about the post-season and a berth in
the national tournament.
"Every game counts in the rankings," Tilden said. "It's always important.
We were thinking of that in our first game. It seems like anyone could
beat anyone."
The Illini are currently ranked 12th in the American Collegiate Hockey
Association and Whitewater is 16th.
The 6-5 Illini will have to battle the Warhawks this weekend without
one of their best forwards — junior Mark VanZandt. He "separated his
shoulder very badly" in practice Tuesday, Cassel said.
"Obviously it's a loss," Cassel said. "Somebody will step up and play
well. We're deep and players have had to step in all year." |
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