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TechnographDon't miss history as it unfolds on ice rink
By Dave Fultz
Posted: 1/29/08 Section: Columns
If you read the top sports story in Monday's paper, you're probably well of aware of our club hockey team.
The Illini swept the Ohio University Bobcats over two games this weekend - including an amazing victory in an 11-round sudden death shootout on Saturday night - to improve their record to 25-0-0 on the season.
The Friday night game was almost as entertaining. Three fights broke out, there were more than 20 minutes in penalties and two players were ejected. Oh yeah, and the Illini won in a 5-0 rout.
Goaltender Mike Burda stopped 42 of the 43 shots he faced this weekend and has a ridiculous 93.08 percent save percentage in the 14 games he has started this season.
Junior forward Jason Nemeth has racked up 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in just 25 games this year.
So, needless to say, these guys are kind of a big deal and you should go out and see one of their games before it's too late.
I'm not trying to say that the hockey team is starving for fans because that is far from the truth. The Ice Arena was packed to the brim on Friday night (when I attended my first game of the season) and many fans were more than happy to find standing-room-only seats behind the glass at ice level.
The atmosphere at these games is really something that can't be duplicated anywhere else. The biggest fans of the team - the die-hard bunch that calls itself the Harassing Illini - are truly one of a kind.
To be honest, chanting, "It's all your fault!" at the opposing goalie when Illinois scores is almost as fun as watching the Illini wipe the ice with their opponents, which they do routinely.
So this column isn't meant to help out a team struggling to find a following, but more a call to all of you sports fans to go and watch this orange and blue squad try to make history, because you'll regret it if you don't.
I'll admit that I'm not a big hockey fan, but for those of us from the Chicago-land area there is a bit of a reason for that.
The Illini swept the Ohio University Bobcats over two games this weekend - including an amazing victory in an 11-round sudden death shootout on Saturday night - to improve their record to 25-0-0 on the season.
The Friday night game was almost as entertaining. Three fights broke out, there were more than 20 minutes in penalties and two players were ejected. Oh yeah, and the Illini won in a 5-0 rout.
Goaltender Mike Burda stopped 42 of the 43 shots he faced this weekend and has a ridiculous 93.08 percent save percentage in the 14 games he has started this season.
Junior forward Jason Nemeth has racked up 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in just 25 games this year.
So, needless to say, these guys are kind of a big deal and you should go out and see one of their games before it's too late.
I'm not trying to say that the hockey team is starving for fans because that is far from the truth. The Ice Arena was packed to the brim on Friday night (when I attended my first game of the season) and many fans were more than happy to find standing-room-only seats behind the glass at ice level.
The atmosphere at these games is really something that can't be duplicated anywhere else. The biggest fans of the team - the die-hard bunch that calls itself the Harassing Illini - are truly one of a kind.
To be honest, chanting, "It's all your fault!" at the opposing goalie when Illinois scores is almost as fun as watching the Illini wipe the ice with their opponents, which they do routinely.
So this column isn't meant to help out a team struggling to find a following, but more a call to all of you sports fans to go and watch this orange and blue squad try to make history, because you'll regret it if you don't.
I'll admit that I'm not a big hockey fan, but for those of us from the Chicago-land area there is a bit of a reason for that.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 5
ilhockey
jeff
posted 1/29/08 @ 5:38 PM CST
Even though they may just be a Club hockey team they or a club team for that matter I do believe they are the greatest team on the UI campus so far, yes the football team had a great year but still ever since chad cassel has been named the head coach the UI hockey team has been one of the most dominate teams on campus. (Continued…)
Richard Lillquist
posted 2/09/08 @ 1:59 PM CST
If it wasn't for the university administration and their greedy need for revenue, thus officially supporting only football and basketball (other minor sports, too, I know, but you know what I mean. (Continued…)
Spiffer
posted 2/18/08 @ 4:13 AM CST
Spaceman Spiff,
It doesn't make sense to hate on our hockey team because they aren't allowed to play the best NCAA teams. Illinois basketball and football play against top NCAA teams frequently - and they almost always lose. (Continued…)
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