(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 15) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team fell to the St. Louis Blues Alumni Friday night by a final score of 8-4.
 
The Blues Alumni brought several fan favorites from the past including Cam Janssen, Reed Low, Jamie Rivers, Jim Campbell, and Larry Patey. Janssen and Campbell each recorded hat tricks in the game, with Janssen also recording a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal, assist, and fight). McKendree sophomore forward Levi Armstrong (Urbana, IL/Peoria Mustangs NA3HL) netted two goals in the game with two assists coming from sophomore forward Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada), who made his debut tonight.
 
The Bearcats struck first in the contest, 8:30 into the first period on a marker from Armstrong with assists coming from freshman defenseman Ryan Reader (Granite City, IL/Granite City High School) and Wilson. The Blues Alumni then found the back of the net with goals coming from Janssen and Kyle Kraemer. Senior forward Jacob Young (Arnold, MO/Meramec Sharks) responded with a tally of his own from his linemates, senior Jason Beilke and sophomore Travis Bobb (New York, NY/Vancouver Rangers WSHL). The rest of the period saw an additional three goals from the Blues Alumni with two goals from Jim Campbell and one from Cam Janssen. The Blues Alumni held a 5-2 lead at the close of the first period.
 
The Blues Alumni widened the gap with two goals in the second period, coming off the sticks of Alex Wideman and Jim Campbell. Armstrong responded with his second goal of the game with Wilson notching another assist. The third period opened with a "fight" between Janssen and junior forward Blair Davies (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada/Christ the King), neither player were able to land any punches in the bout. Both teams held each other off the board until the final two minutes of the game when Janssen was able to net his third goal of the game off of a pass from Terry Yake. Davies had a response, scoring an unassisted goal with 19 seconds left in the contest. The Blues Alumni were able to top the Bearcats in the contest by a final score of 8-4.
 
The Bearcats D2 men's hockey team is back in action next Friday at Saint Louis University, followed up by a home contest on Saturday with puck drop at 4:45 p.m. at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex. The McKendree D3 men's hockey team plays its home opener Friday night at 5 p.m. against Northern Illinois University, with Saturday's game beginning at 2 p.m.