(LEBANON, Ill., Jan. 12) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team is set to play its first home series in the new McKendree Metro Rec Plex against Northern Illinois University. Due to weather concerns, the games have been pushed back one day and the Bearcats will take on the Huskies at 7 p.m. Saturday evening and then again at noon on Sunday.
 
Tickets for the games will be sold at the door for $5, with children five and under admitted free. Members of the McKendree Metro Rec Plex can buy tickets for $3 with proof of membership. McKendree students are admitted free with a student ID. Those who are unable to attend, the games will be streamed here.
 
The opening of the McKendree Metro Rec Plex for the McKendree hockey teams marks the first home rink to house the Bearcats since the closing of the U.S. Ice Sports Complex in 2012. The McKendree Plex features two NHL-sized rinks with the ability to seat in excess of 2,000 spectators, which is also the home of the McKendree ACHA D3 men's hockey team and the ACHA D1 women's hockey team.
 
McKendree has an overall record of 13-3 this season, winning its last eight games. The Bearcats hold first place in the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Gold Division with a perfect 8-0 record. Northern Illinois has an overall record of 8-18, with a record of 8-5 in the MACHA Gold Division. In the Central Region of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), McKendree currently sits in sixth place.
 
Leading the scoring charge for the Bearcats is senior forward Ryan Sizer (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Moira Secondary School), amassing 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points in just 16 games. Just behind him is freshman forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Urbana HS), who has netted a team high 13 goals and added 18 assists for 31 points. Sophomore forward Lazar Lestaric (Belgrade, Serbia/Sesta) and freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/KV Zurich Business School) each have 28 points, with sophomore forward Kristjan Toivola (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham Blazers (NPHL)) just behind them with 24 points.
 
Standing tall in net for McKendree has been sophomore goaltender Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Saint Theresa’s High School), seeing time in 14 games and posting a 9-2 record. Best has logged 751:21 of ice time so far this season, earning a 2.64 goals-against average and a save percentage of 0.920. Junior goaltender Trevor Klostermann (Highland, IL/Highland HS) has played in one game for the McKendree D2 team, earning a win in the process.