This past weekend, our Birds played far and wide, with our D1 team winning at home against the University of Illinois, 6-2 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday; our D2 team playing the University of Arkansas, unfortunately losing both games: 1-5 on Friday and on Saturday; and our D3 team traveled to Michigan and faced Oakland University, where they also unfortunately lost both games: 4-5 on Friday and 1-5 on Saturday.
Last weekend, the D1 Birds faced the University of Illinois at home for their rivalry game. Coming off a great weekend, after winning the Stephen Russell Memorial tournament, the team took that momentum into the game and showed the Illini exactly what the Birds could do. With a starting lineup of #15 Pavel Bakhtin,#92 Dominic Dager,#23 Jaycob Bland,#22 Jacob Swiatek,#39 Sam Truxaw, and goalie #30 Kason Yamada, the Birds got off to a rocky start. The first period was scoreless for both teams, but the team was strong on defense! In the second period, we finally saw the high-scoring Redbirds we were introduced to last weekend. About five minutes into the second period, #27 Robin Kuusik scored the first goal of the game with an assist from #29 Brody Neish. Two minutes later, #23 Jaycob Bland scored with an assist from #15 Pavel Bakhtin. The final goal of the second period was from #8 Lucca Weinkauf, who helped the Birds end the period with a 3-0 lead against the Fighting Illini. The third period was just as entertaining as the second. #13 Carson Pishkur, with an assist from #19 Hunter O’Neal, scored less than two minutes into the period. U of I scored their first goal of the game about halfway through the third period, but they did not have long to celebrate because less than a minute later #27 Robin Kuusik scored his second goal of the game. The final goal of the game was from #29 Brody Neish with an assist from #17 Ryan Callahan. The final score of the game was 6-2, with another Birds win!
With a starting lineup of #56 Angelo Massaro, #29 Brody Neish, #27 Robin Kuusik, #55 Declan McDermott, #19 Hunter O’Neal, and goalie #35 Noah Van Herik, Saturday’s game was just as exciting. The game had an explosive start with a goal from #8 Lucca Weinkauf with an assist from #29 Brody Neish 58 seconds into the game. Going into the first intermission, the team was tied 1-1, and after a scoreless second period, the team was down by a goal. However, this all changed during the third period. Two goals from #29 Brody Neish, with assists from #19 Hunter O’Neal and #27 Robin Kussik, and an empty-net goal from #8 Lucca Weinkauf, the Redbirds pulled through and came out with a win over the Illini. Huge Shoutout to #29 Brody Neish, who is now the second-most goal scorer in Men’s Division 1 hockey. Congratulations, Brody! Next week, the D1 team will face Roosevelt University at home on Friday at 7:30 pm and then travel to Bensenville to play at the Edge Ice Arena on Sunday at 7:30 pm.
Our D2 Birds traveled to Arkansas this past weekend to play against the University of Arkansas. The team’s starting lineup for Friday’s game was comprised of #96 Mason Buchanan, #9 JP Teichman, #6 Zack Dawson, #12 Nate Maxwell, #2 Ryan Badger, and goalie #45 Cooper Darovic. After two scoreless periods for the Birds, the team scored their first goal by #13 A.J. Kowalyczk. The final score of the game was 1-5.
Saturday’s games were much the same, with a starting lineup of #37 Nathan Galvan, #19 Jack Keaty, #7 Blake Kumor, #17 Jack Mitchell, #11 Michael Egan, and goalie #45 Cooper Darovic. After another scoreless first two periods, the team’s first goal was from #9 JP Teichman. The final score of the game was 1-5. Our player shoutout this week is to #45 Cooper Darovic for all of his hard work in goal this weekend. Congratulations, Cooper! Next week, the team will play at home against the University of Nebraska on Friday at 10:15 pm and Saturday at 5:30 pm.
Our D3 Redbirds traveled to Michigan for the second time this month to play Oakland University. The starting lineup at the Buffalo Wild Wings Arena on Friday was #83 Eddie Peterson, #71 Dominic Luparell,#23 Kevin Erturk,#7 Ryan Nayder, #25 Cody Teson, and goalie #30 Matt Ogean. The Birds started off strong with an early goal from #23 Kevin Erturk with an assist from #25 Cody Teson about two minutes into the game. The team was up going into the first intermission and kept fighting throughout the second period with two more goals. One was from #54 Matthew Strom with an assist from #18 Charlie Orlando, and the other was from #17 Peyton Enderle with an assist from #89 Marty McCauley. The team’s final goal of the game was from #53 Justin Morrissey; unfortunately, it was not enough. The final score of the game was 4-5.
Saturday’s game had a starting lineup of #53 Justin Morrissey, #54 Matthew Strom, #18 Charlie Orlando, #12 Nick Vangel, #10 Mario Garcia, and goalie #50 Matt DiFilippo. The Redbirds started strong with an early goal from #89 Marty McCauley with an assist from #17 Peyton Enderle. Sadly, that was the only Redbird goal of the game. The final score was 1-5. Even with a tough loss, the team still played hard and fought until the end. This weekend’s player shoutouts go to #30 Matt Ogean for his 49 saves on 54 shots in Friday’s game and #89 Marty McCauley for his goal in Saturday’s game. Congratulations guys! Next weekend, the D3 Birds will play in the Route 66 Tournament, facing the University of Arkansas, the University of Kansas, and Missouri State University.
Looking ahead as a program, we have two teams playing at home this weekend. Our D1 team will play at home against Roosevelt University on Friday at 7:30 pm and will travel to the Edge Ice Arena to play on Saturday to play at 7:30 pm. Our D2 team will play both of their games at home this weekend against the University of Nebraska on Friday at 10:15 pm and Saturday at 5:30 pm. Finally, our D3 team will head to Springfield, Missouri, to play in the Route 66 Tournament! We wish all the teams good luck this weekend! Go Redbirds!