The Illinis next opponent, the Stallions of Western Michigan

January 30th, 2003 -

We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo
How about you, you, you?
You can come too, too, too
We're goin' to the zoo, zoo, zoo.

  The 25-1-0 Illini travel this weekend to the Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo Michigan to face off against the 18-8-3 Western Michigan University Stallions. The Stallions are currently ranked 6th in the CSCHL and have won seven of their last ten games, tying once, and losing twice to the Cyclones of Iowa State. The Illini have a losing record of 3-5 over the last eight meetings with the Stallions, and would like to come away with a sweep this weekend even the score.

  The Stallions are currently averaging 4 goals per game, mostly in part from the scoring abilities of their players like Mike Hall and Joe Moreau, who are each tied with 17 goals on the season. On the other end of the ice, WMU has been a little shaky in the defense department this year letting a fair amount of pucks get to their net minders Frank Long and Will Lite. Each tender has around a 90% save percentage but are sporting a 3 goals against average. The fast firing Illini skate in with a 6 goal a game average which should be enough to keep the Stallion goalies pulling pucks out of the nets on a regularly frequent basis both nights. The Illini defense will have to step up and keep the Stallions from charging through the Illini zone, but even once there, the Western Michigan team will have to face Illini tenders, such as our own Tim Danlow, who is having an outstanding year with a 93.7% save percentage and is sporting a 1.6 goals against average.

  These are two of the last four CSCHL games for the Illini this season, where each of the games is worth 4 points, and the Illini would like to come away with a few more checks in the win column and a commanding points lead before the playoffs in February.  Go Illini