October 31, 2007 - The Illini are getting ready for their first real road trip of the season as they head to Ann Arbor for a pair of Central States Collegiate Hockey League games against the Eastern Michigan University Eagles. While the Illini did make the 3 hour drive to Lindenwood for the single game trip, the trip to Michigan will be a longer stay and have a little more at stake. Each of the games versus Eastern Michigan has a value of 4 points associated with it, and with the Illini's goal of being regular season champions, each game is important.
The Illini face the Eagles three times last season, twice during the regular season and once in the CSCHL playoffs, and the Illini came away with three wins. In those three meetings the Illini outscored EMU 25-4, with the closest game being 7-3. The Eagles are currently ranked in the 21st spot of the ACHA, after slipping from 18th, with an overall record of 6-5-1, 3-3-0 in league play. Of the 12 games played, Eastern's offense has put in 45 goals, or just under four goals per game. Leading the team in points is freshman Joe Schweiger with 15 (5 goals, 10 assists) followed by senior Matt Opyd with 10 (3 goals, 7 assists). The teams leading goal grabber is another freshman, Brandon Greear with 7 goals as well as having 2 assists. If Eastern has a weak spot, it would probably have to be that they are allowing just as many goals into their net as they are putting in. The EMU defense has been allowing opposing offenses to get an average of just over 36 shots on goal per game with just under four of those ending up in the net. Spending the majority of the time between the pipes for Eastern is sophomore goaltender Erik Schardt whose current Goals Against average is 3.58 with a save percentage of 89.9%.
The Illini will take to the ice both Friday and Saturday nights at 7:15pm (Eastern) at the Ice Cube of Ann Arbor. |
