Champaign, IL - With the final day of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League playoffs halfway finished, and the 3rd and 4th place game complete, it was time for the Championship game between #1 Illinois and #2 Lindenwood.

For the third straight game of the playoffs the first goal was scored by the Illini and by a Heredia, this time however it was JJ Heredia putting the Illini out front first. Just under 11 minutes into the first period junior Tom Connell would send the puck over to JJ Heredia in the slot, allowing him to fire a shot past Lindenwood's Grahame Lippert in net, freshman Daniel Cohen picking up the second assist. The Illini would get one of the few power play chances late in the period, but the Lion's penalty killers kept them out of the net.

In the second period the Lindenwood penalty killers would be put to the test once again, and this time they would turn the tide on the Illini as Larry Kopecky would streak in on sophomore Mike Burda and pick up his second short handed goal of the weekend, tying the game at 1-1. The Illini would be given one more power play opportunity in the second, and this time they would make it pay off as junior Jason Nemeth dished the puck over to senior Alex Park at the top of the circle, and with a rocket into the back of the net, put the Illini ahead 2-1 at the 13:52 mark.

An early Illini penalty would give the Lion's a chance to even things back up, but would be called for a penalty of their own, leaving the two teams skating 4 on 4. Shortly after the Lions returned their man to the ice, the Illini offense would set up in the Lindenwood zone, and a shot from Jason Nemeth would be stopped and dropped by Lippert, giving senior Johnny Liang time to find it and send it into the Lions net at the 4:54 mark, Brad Hoelzer picking up the second assist. With time running out in the game, Lindenwood was looking desperate, and with just over two minutes left, sophomore Brad Hoelzer, with the aide of Nick Fabbrini, drove the stake into the heart of the Lions, sending a shot past Lippert, and giving the Illini the 4-1 win.

The win over Lindenwood gives the Illini the CSCHL Playoff Trophy to add to the CSCHL regular season title that they picked up earlier. Along with the playoff trophy, coach Chad Cassel was named CSCHL coach of the year, Brad Hoelzer was named the playoffs MVP, as well as being named to the CSCHL's 1st team All-League with Mike Burda, Jason Nemeth, and Jordan Pringle.