Liberty University Club Sports
Showcase in Chicago
Flames double up Chicago Classic host Illini, 6-3; advance to Sunday’s final against UNLV
11/20/2021 11:02:43 PM | Men's D1 Hockey
Liberty University’s No. 4-ranked ACHA Division I men’s hockey team improved to 2-0 in the Chicago Classic with a 6-3 triumph over 15th-ranked host University of Illinois Saturday night at Fifth Third Arena.
The victory sends the Flames (13-3) to Sunday’s 1 p.m. EST championship showdown with No. 5 UNLV (11-3), a 2-1 winner over No. 2 Minot State in Saturday’s other semifinal.
“We struggled offensively in the first period and even through parts of the second, but we found a way,” Liberty Head Coach Kirk Handy said. “This team has been resilient. We need to play 60 minutes (Sunday against the Runnin’ Rebels). We’ve got to continue to focus (on executing offensively).”
On Saturday, Illinois seized an early 1-0 lead by capitalizing on a Flames turnover and finishing its first shot of the game in the opening minute past junior goalie Hunter Virostek.
“Their guy got the puck in the slot and made a good shot,” Liberty Assistant Coach Dan Berthiaume said. “The last two games, we have given up a goal in the first three minutes of the game. We outshot them, 18-6, in the first period, but we gave them some big chances.”
Flames sophomore forward Jason Foltz netted the equalizer at the 12:40 mark off assists from senior forward Josh Fricks and graduate defenseman Chaydan Lauber before Fricks gave the Flames their first lead just over five minutes into the second with an unassisted score. Virostek preserved the 2-1 advantage with a last-second save of a breakaway opportunity by the Illini.
Illinois tied the contest early in the third period before freshman defenseman Nate Cox lifted Liberty to a 3-2 lead two minutes later, and Lauber gave the Flames a 4-2 cushion off an assist from Cox two minutes after that.
The Illini struck back less than a minute later, trimming the deficit to 4-3, before freshman forward Aleksandr Charin finished a feed from sophomore forward Truett Olson and freshman defenseman Matt Berezowski extended the Flames’ advantage to 6-3.
Liberty’s penalty kill stopped all three of the Illini’s power-play opportunities, and Virostek made 28 saves as the Flames held a 48-31 advantage in shots.
“The game was pretty close until the end, and (Virostek) played really well,” Berthiaume said, noting that Liberty will need to continue its special teams success in Sunday’s final. “UNLV is definitely a very sound team with four good lines and good defensemen. They are one of the best teams we’ll play all year.”
The contest, livestreamed on tournament host Illini Hockey's Facebook page, will be a preview of the Flames’ series against the Runnin’ Rebels. They will visit the LaHaye Ice Center on Jan. 27-28 with the series finale the last of Liberty's three “Midnight Mayhem” matches this season at the LIC.
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
