Hoosiers to face Minnesota, Illinois

The hockey team faces its first-ever contest against Minnesota at 7:30 p.m. today at the Frank Southern Center. This is the first game in the Hoosiers' second three-game weekend of the year.\nMinnesota is generally a low-ranking ACHA Division-II team because few conference competitors travel to the state of Minnesota.\n"(Minnesota) coming here to play us and the University of Kentucky is trying to make a statement," assistant coach and general manager Alex Kyrias said of the Gophers. "It'll be a good challenge."\nThe Hoosiers (15-7-2, 11-1-2 Midwest Collegiate Hockey League) are hosting the single game against Minnesota before traveling to a two-game series with Illinois' Division-I team.\nIn a triple-overtime thriller, the Hoosiers defeated the Illini 4-3 in the final round of the Chicago College Classic Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 25. The team suspects Illinois will be searching for revenge with its packed venue and professional-size ice rink.\n"We need to realize that the circumstances in Illinois are not ideal, but those are circumstances you need to win under sometimes," Kyrias said. "We've beat them before in their building, so we know we can do it again."\nThe Hoosiers have not decided to start a goalie for the Minnesota game, but the plan is to start sophomore Charlie Pulley at Illinois Friday.\n"I think we have a really good chance (to beat Illinois) as long as we go in there and play the way we did Saturday (against Michigan)," Pulley said. "If we're able to block out (the rink and crowd size) and overcome those two challenges early, I think we have a pretty good look for Friday night."\nThe latest rankings for both the American Collegiate Hockey Association and MCHL have been released, and the Hoosiers fared well in both. The team finished first in the MCHL regular season and secured the top seed entering the conference tournament Feb. 16 in Fishers, Ind. \nThe team will play the University of Toledo (1-16, 0-14 MCHL) in the first round. The Hoosiers defeated the Rockets by a combined score of 19-0 in a two-game series Oct. 20 and 21 in Toledo.\n"I think the team's feeling pretty confident coming off a big win against Michigan," junior forward and assistant captain Brandon Phillips said. "I think we're going in (the conference tournament) thinking we're going to do well."\nIn the final rankings for ACHA Division-II hockey, the Hoosiers finished second in the Southeast Region behind Life. Life swept the Hoosiers at the Frank Southern Center in December, marking the first time IU had been swept at home in three years. Life received five first-place votes, while the Hoosiers and Michigan split the final two. Miami (Ohio) and Indiana (Penn.) round out the Southeast Region teams selected for the national tournament. Nationals begin Feb. 28 and will also be played in Fishers, Ind.\nThe Hoosiers will face Michigan State, New York and Utah in the national tournament.\n"Hopefully, the guys will be salivating at the chance to play Michigan State," Kyrias said.