Illinois Hockey Prepares for Heated Rematch with McKendree
The University of Illinois men’s hockey team (17-6-4, 52 points) is set to face off against McKendree University (12-15-1, 35 points) in back-to-back games this weekend, continuing a burgeoning rivalry between the two programs. The matches will be held at the University of Illinois Ice Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. Both Friday, and Saturday.
The Illini are coming off a series against Davenport University two weeks prior, where they split the matchups. Illinois lost the first game 5-3, with goals from senior forward John McLaughlin, graduate student forward Alexander Matveev, and sophomore forward Carson Mitchell. They rebounded in the second game, securing a 5-4 victory after Matveev propelled them to a 5-1 lead before Davenport mounted a comeback with three power-play goals.
Junior forward David Etingen emphasized the importance of discipline heading into the weekend series. “One thing that hurt us last weekend was careless penalties,” Etingen said, highlighting a key area for improvement.
Familiar Foes
Illinois previously swept McKendree in a November series, winning both games by scores of 6-4 and 6-2. Etingen believes the team’s familiarity with McKendree’s style of play will be advantageous. “We are at our best when we play the right way and have a good forecheck,” he stated. Having faced the Bearcats ten times throughout his Illinois career, Etingen has developed a strong understanding of their game.
“McKendree has an older, bigger team,” Etingen explained. “They play physically and try to get under our skin. Staying level-headed and capitalizing on the power-play will be crucial.” He added that Illinois has historically found success by utilizing its speed and quick transitions to create scoring opportunities against McKendree.
Point Production Disparity
While McKendree boasts a more experienced roster, Illinois holds a significant advantage in offensive production. McKendree’s leading scorer, senior forward Matais Alexandrov, has recorded 22 points in 27 games. In contrast, Illinois is led by senior forward Gregory Etingen, who has amassed 40 points in 25 games. Sophomore forward Carson Mitchell follows closely with 30 points, and David Etingen is third with 28 points.
David Etingen attributes the line’s success to a relentless work ethic. “With me, personally, a lot of my production stems from my line mates never taking a shift off,” he said. “I try to focus on playing the right way, the production will come naturally then.”
The Illini will look to continue their strong offensive output and avoid costly penalties as they aim to further their heated rivalry with McKendree this weekend.
