IU routs Illinois twice over weekend

The undefeated IU ice hockey team opens Greater Midwest Hockey League play with a two-game home stand this weekend against its toughest opponent to date, the Davenport University Panthers.\nAfter a 5-0 start, including a two-game sweep against Illinois’ Division II club team this past weekend, the team is ready for a test.\nDavenport finished second in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II nationals this past March, losing an overtime game to Michigan State in the finals. \nAlthough the Panthers started the season a modest 4-4, IU junior forward Adam Fishbein expects a tough opponent when the Hoosiers meet the Panthers on the ice Friday night at the Frank Southern Ice Arena.\n“This will be our toughest game all year within the league,” Fishbein said. “They are a very strong team, obviously, since they finished second in Nationals. They are a team we’ve been gunning for since the beginning of the season.”\nMore importantly, the GMHL games count toward qualifying for the end-of-season American Collegiate Hockey Association national tournament. After missing the tournament for the first time in 12 years last season, the team’s goal is to return to the tournament. \nSophomore forward Joe Fornari noted the importance of winning early as vital to fulfilling that goal.\n“The quicker you can get out front and pull away from teams (the better),” Fornari said. “You get the momentum rolling, and you just want to keep that momentum rolling to set the tone for the season.” \nFor IU to win, the team will need to continue to produce offensively as it has in pre-league play. During the Hoosiers’ current five-game winning streak, they have scored seven goals per game.\nThis offensive firepower was on display over the weekend against Illinois’ Division II team. IU got off to a strong start in the Friday and Saturday games, winning 8-1 and 10-3, respectively. \nThe Friday night game opened with goals from sophomore forward Mike Vaughn and senior forward Sam Adler. Fishbein added two first period goals in a row, and the stage was set for the rout. Vaughn added a second goal later in the game, and freshman Ryan Gidley and seniors Dan Karlander and Matt Henderson each scored a goal apiece.\nThe following day told the same story, as Vaughn scored the opening goal en route to a big win. Nine players put the puck in the net at least once.\nFornari, who led the team with two goals, thought the team accomplished what it set out to do.\n“We just played to come out hard and get on them early, which we did,” Fornari said. “Especially Saturday, we got off to a good start, we were able to pull ahead quick and take them out of the game really early.”