(CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Nov. 3) – The McKendree University men's D2 hockey team defeated the University of Illinois 7-1 late Friday night in Champaign, Ill. The win pushes the Bearcats to 8-3 on the season.
 
Senior Blair Davies (Georgetown, Ontario, Canada/Christ the King) got the Bearcats on the board first with an assist from sophomore Adam Dempski (St. Charles, MO/Francis Howell North HS). The Fighting Illini would tie it up at one apiece just minutes later until Dempski notched a goal of his own to push McKendree ahead. Juniors Alec Nichols (Cedar Rapids, IA/Northern Iowa Bulls NA3HL) and Tyler Wilson (Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) were credited with the helpers. Sophomore Shayne Pluto (Calgary, Alberta, Canada/Central Memorial High School) extended the McKendree lead with the same connection of Nichols and Wilson.
 
Continuing his hot streak, senior Ty Watt (Barrie, Ontario, Canada/Rama Aces GMHL) pushed the lead even further with the Bearcats' fourth goal of the game with passes from Wilson and sophomore Tyler Estermyer (Plano, TX/East Lake High School). Junior Dominic Naas (Neurensdorf, Zurich, Switzerland/Casper Coyotes WSHL) closed the first period with his first goal of the game as he caught a pass from sophomore Jacob Scrum (Maryville, IL/Collinsville High School). McKendree led 5-1 after the opening 20 minutes.
                                                                                                                                                                               
Freshman Trevor Wolf (Wellington, FL/Wellington High School) recorded his first goal of the season and his first collegiate goal with the help of Davies and Dempski. Nichols finished out the scoring in the third period as Davies and Wolf were credited with the assists and McKendree would win 7-1 over Illinois.
 
The D2 hockey team will look for a sweep this afternoon when they return to the rink on Saturday afternoon with a scheduled puck drop at 2:00p.m.