Hockey ends weekend split with thrilling shootout win

The Fighting Illini hockey team celebrates their second point scored by Illinois’ Daniel Cohen (17) during the game against Iowa State at the UI Ice Arena on Saturday. Illinois won 4-3 in the overtime shootout.
Christine Chung The Daily Illini

Brad Hoelzer skated away from the bench toward the puck waiting for him at center-ice in front of a packed house on Saturday night. After being shut out at home the night before for just the second time all season, the Illinois hockey team’s chances at valuable conference points seemed to be riding on this shootout — and Hoelzer’s stick.

DJ Kohler had just stopped his sixth straight goal of the shootout, and Hoelzer, the team’s seventh shooter, took the ice to try and end the game.

“When the ref blew the whistle, I went blocker side and then glove side,” Hoelzer said. “I like to shoot high normally, and the guys before were having trouble sticking in front of the net because the ice was all messed up, so I was pretty committed to the shot coming down. Right at the last second, I saw a blocker opening. I saw the back of the net and fired and it went in.”

The Illini hopped the benches and mauled Hoelzer. After Friday night’s disappointing 1-0 loss, Illinois (21-5-1) picked up some much needed league points against third-place Iowa State (21-8). Illinois now has 21 points in the CSCHL, trailing leader Lindenwood by three and second-place Ohio by one.

“It was huge,” senior captain Pierce Butler said. “We dropped some really unwanted losses here before break with Kent, and after with Robert Morris. That one really stung. (Saturday) was huge. We didn’t want to get swept at home and we knew we could give that extra little bit to put the puck in the net. We’re going to be battling, I have a feeling, with Iowa State a few more times this year in the league tournament. It was good to know that we could come out and we could play with them and take it to them.”

Friday night’s game came down to one mistake, as Illinois goalie Mike Burda was 24-for-25 on save opportunities. Unfortunately the effort wasn’t enough. The story of the game, as it has been all season, was the Illini’s inability to finish on opportunities.

“The effort was there, but something we’ve had a problem with lately is putting the puck in the net,” Hoelzer said. “That’s something we need to work on over the next few weeks here.”

The Illini’s biggest loss Friday night may have been the injury to leading goal-scorer JJ Heredia. The forward collided headfirst into the wall, separating his shoulder in the process.

“JJ’s hurt and it really hurts the team, but he’ll be back soon,” Burda said. “I think he’s only looking at a couple of weeks right now and he should be back for playoff time. It hurts to lose him, but we’re going to keep playing the game.”

Even after the loss of Heredia, the Illini fought back with intensity the next night. They jumped out on top 2-0 after goals by forwards Tom Connell and Daniel Cohen early in the first and second periods, respectively. Iowa State climbed back with a goal that slipped through the legs of Kohler.

“I gave up a pretty weak goal, the first goal of the game, a goal I should have never given up,” Kohler said. “I kind of put us in that tough situation.”

Illinois took a 3-2 lead into the final period, but an early goal in the final period tied it at 3, and the score stayed that way through regulation, sending the game into overtime, which went scoreless.

“I love it, it’s a huge adrenaline rush,” Kohler said. “It’s one of the most exciting parts of hockey. Being one-on-one with the opponent. That’s the pressure and the challenge that I live for. Him coming down at me and being able to make a huge save with everyone standing on their feet cheering for you, it’s just a great rush to get.”

The Illini have a difficult road the rest of the way, going through Ohio next weekend and first-place Lindenwood the following weekend.

“It was huge for us,” Kohler said. “I think it’s good for our team. Especially with JJ out, we needed a win here to prove that were a good team and that we have guys who can step in and fill different roles. It’s not going to be easy to play without JJ, so we’re going to need to step it up.”