Since 1957, soldout crowds have packed the University of Illinois
Ice Arena for Fighting Illini hockey games.  This past season, record crowds
stuffed the 2,100-seat Arena, cheering the team to a 20-16-1 record and
No. 6 national ranking.  The team celebrated last month with an awards
banquet at which five players were named ACHA All-Americans.
        The Illini, despite modest expectations heading into the season
following the graduation of three outstanding scorers, quickly earned a
reputation as the team to beat.  By November, following wins over
perennial powerhouses Iowa State and Penn State, the team earned the No.
2 ranking in the American Collegiate Hockey Association's Division I poll.
        In January, the Illini earned their third-straight bid to the
national tournament.  But a tough second semester schedule, which
included road trips to Penn State and Ohio, bumped the team into the
sixth seed for nationals - despite a victory over eventual national
champion Ohio.
        At the national tournament in March at Tuscon, Arizona, the team
earned its final No. 6 ranking following a tough overtime loss to No.
3-ranked Iowa State.
        A team-record five players were named All-Americans by the ACHA
Coaches' Committee: Chad Cassel, Terry Kasdan, Emmett McCarthy, Kurt
Penn, and Tom Radja.  In addition, Kasdan, McCarthy, and Penn were also
named to the Academic All-America team.
        An exciting season is planned for next year.  Among the teams
visiting the Ice Arena in Champaign next winter will be Penn State and
Arizona.  Tickets for next year's games will go on sale in September at
the U of I Ice Arena.  For ticket information, or for more information
about the team, please call the Ice Arena at (217)333-2212.
 
        The Fighting Illini are members of the Central States Collegiate
Hockey League.  On a national level, the team is affiliated with the
American Collegiate Hockey Association - Division I.