The University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) will showcase ACHA hockey
tonight when it faces NCAA-opponent Illinois-Chicago at 7 p.m. in
Springfield.
        The Fighting Illini, like most of the ACHA's top teams, regularly beat
NCAA Division III teams.  But tonight's contest will mark the first time
Illinios has ever faced a Division I opponent.
        The Illini are coming off a diappointing East Coast road trip last
weekend, in which they tied Delaware and lost to Towson State.  Tonight's
game will be the Flames' season opener.
        A good performance by the Illini may prove to many people that
the ACHA is a viable and respectable alternative to NCAA hockey.
Illinois' most recent NCAA victory was two years ago over Div. III Lake
Forest College.  But last season ACHA teams frquently upset NCAA opponents.
        The Illini will next host Wisconsin-Whitewater on Friday and
Saturday, when Illinois-Chicago travels to Air Force.
 
Check out the Fighting Illini's homepage:
http://www.uiuc.edu/fun/sports/hockey.html
 
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