(CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Nov. 12) – The McKendree University D2 men's hockey completes the sweep of the University of Illinois 8-5. The Bearcats improve to 11-3 overall.

The Fighting Illini started out strong opening the first period with two goals before the Bearcats could respond. McKendree got its response with the first of three goals from sophomore forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta) with assists coming from freshman forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Urbana HS) and senior forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School). Lestaric would find the back of the net not even five minutes after with an unassisted tally. McKendree would continue showcasing its scoring prowess in to the rest of the game. Just two minutes after Lestaric's goal, freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/KV Zurich Business School) found the back of the net to close out the first period. Sophomore forward Kristjan Toivola (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) and sophomore forward Blair Davies (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada/Christ the King) picked up assists on Naas' goal.

The second period brought three Bearcat goals in the first five minutes of play. Sizer opened up the period with a power play goal with assists coming from Lestaric and senior defenseman Steven Csanyi. Freshman forward Stanislav Gavrus (Grodno, Belarus/Gymnasium #1) added another for the Bearcats less than a minute later with assists credited to freshman forward Michael Weedman (O'Fallon, MO/Ft. Zumwalt North HS) and junior forward Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's HS). Armstrong scored his first of the game on a power play on a pass from Sizer and Lestaric. Armstrong scored again seven minutes later on another power play with assists from Sizer and freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/KV Zurich Business School). The Fighting Illini would answer back with three more goals late in the third period and finish with five goals total. Lestaric would score from Armstrong and Sizer on a power play in the final three minutes of the second period and complete his hat trick.

This game alone brought Lestaric five points with three goals and two assists. Both Sizer and Armstrong earned four points a piece, with Sizer picking up four assists aand Armstrong netting two goals and reigstering two assists.

"Lestaric was so impressive tonight," said head coach Garry Henson, "He outworked his matchup every shift. Nice to see it payoff with a hat trick." Lestaric, Lamb, and Jason Beilke were named players of the game by Henson.

The Bearcats return to the ice with their final away games of the regular season against Robert Morris College in Peoria, IL which will be held on December 9th and 10th.