Hockey returns to ice after hiatus

After a three-week break, head coach Chad Cassel finally has a nearly full roster at his disposal.

"We're as healthy as we have been all year," Cassel said.

Cassel's Illinois club hockey team used fall break to recover from some key injuries and will return to the Ice Arena this weekend, taking on No. 20 Western Michigan in a pair of conference games.

Every player on the Illini roster is expected to be available for the series, except for J.J. Heredia, who has missed every game this season with a broken leg. Having outscored opponents 27-3 in their last four games, the Illini's sole concern is maintaining their momentum after the long layoff.

"We've had a pretty good week of practice, but I wouldn't be surprised if we came out a bit rusty," Cassel said.

With improved depth at forward, Cassel said he saw marked improvement to the lineup in this week's practices, especially on the power play.

The No. 1 Illini, at 13-0-0, hold the sole undefeated record in ACHA Division I club hockey. With four games remaining in the semester, the Illini will look to enter winter break with an undefeated record for the first time since 2005.

The Illini will try to notch two more victories against the Stallions, who have turned around their season in November. After starting the year 4-6-0, the Stallions have won eight of their last nine games.

"They're on a roll," Cassel said. "We're going to have our hands full."

Illinois sits second in the CSCHL conference standings to No. 4 Lindenwood, which has played four more games in conference. The Illini can tie for first place with a sweep of the Stallions. The series will be the last two conference games on Illinois' schedule until Jan. 18.

"Our guys are just excited to be back on the ice," Cassel said.