(WEBSTER GROVES, Mo., Feb. 12) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team won the Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Championship after defeating the University of Iowa 4-1.
 
The Bearcats extend their winning streak to 16 games with the win, improving their record to 21-3. McKendree is ranked No. 5 in the Central Region of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) with regionals beginning on February 24 in Plymouth, Michigan.
 
McKendree struck first in the contest at the 8:53 mark of the first period. Sophomore forward Kristjan Toivola (Bellingham, WA/Bellingham Blazers NPHL) netted the goal on a pass from freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL). McKendree went on to close out the first period ahead 1-0. The Bearcats scored the only goal of the second period when senior defenseman Steve Csanyi (Belleville, Ontario, Canada/Picton Pirates EBJCHL) scored on the power play, burying the puck behind the Hawkeyes goaltender on a pass from Naas. McKendree went on to take a 2-0 lead into the third period. Junior defenseman Josh Donovan (Ojai, CA/Channel Islands Riptide) scored an unassisted goal at the 8:43 mark of the third period when he found a loose puck and sent a wrist shot into the top corner of the net. Just 30 seconds later the Hawkeyes scored their only goal of the game, cutting the Bearcats lead back to two goals. Junior forward Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's HS) scored his third goal of the MACHA playoffs with 5:30 left to play. Freshman forward Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) and freshman defenseman Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL) registered assists on Lamb's goal.
 
Sophomore goaltender Andrew Best (Midland, Ontario, Canada/Cambridge Bears Junior A team) made 35 saves on 36 shots in the game to earn a save percentage of 0.972. Best allowed just two goals in the playoffs, stopping 60 of 62 shots on goal. In the playoffs he earned a goals against average of 1.00 and a save percentage of 0.968. Best's stats were good enough to earn him Co-MVP alongside teammate Billy Lamb (St. Louis, MO/St. Mary's HS). Lamb had three goals on the weekend, including two against Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville.
 
The three stars of the game were Naas with three assists, Best with a 0.972 save percentage, and Csanyi with the game-winning goal.
 
McKendree is back in action at the ACHA Central Regionals beginning on February 24 in Plymouth, Michigan.