TI 19Us Place 4th in MWEHL 

Congratulations Team Illinois U19s on your 4th place finish in the Midwest Elite Hockey League Tournament! 

TI spent back-to-back weekends in Detroit. Going into the final Showcase weekend of the season, the TI 19Us needed a strong showing to secure a playoff spot. They responded to the challenge by winning 3 of their 4 games the weekend of February 6 - 8. 

After arriving in Detroit, TI took on the Colorado Selects at the Joe. Playing on the Detroit Red Wings pond, TI handed Colorado a decisive 6-2 loss. Sonja Novak opened the scoring in the 1st period. Returning from a three week layoff due to injury Kellye Stefanski provided the assist. Allie Morrow scored the next goal assisted by Novak. The 1st period scoring ended with a goal from Karen Levin assisted by Novak. TI scored three more times in the 2nd. Goals came from Olivia Antognoli, Jillian Kirchner and Lexie Kaknes. Assists came from Samantha Ullrich, Novak and Levin. 

Saturday afternoon TI took on the Michigan Capitals and came away 5-2 victors. Coming off of a loss and tie in their last meetings at the Glacier Showcase Weekend, TI jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Michigan and never looked back. Goals came from Tori Wiedmeier and Kaknes. Assists came from Kirchner, T. Wiedmeier, and Levin. Kirchner scored in the 2nd assisted by Lauren Wiedmeier. In the 3rd, TI closed out Michigan with goals from Morrow, and Ullrich. Assists came from Courtney Bean, Levin and Kaknes.  

Saturday night TI lost 4-0 to Honeybaked. Even more disappointing was a shoulder injury sustained by Elaine McKenna while in goal. We all wish her a speedy recovery.  

In the final game of the showcase weekend TI was back at the Joe to take on Little Caesars and won impressively, 4-1. This secured a 5th place finish overall for the season and guaranteed them a return trip to Detroit for the playoffs. TI exploded with 3 goals in the first and never looked back. Goals came from Novak, Amanda Auger and Kirchner. Assists came from L. Wiedmeier, Morrow, Novak and Levin. A final goal came from Levin, assisted by K. Stefanski and Novak.  

Then it was back to Detroit the weekend of February 13-15. In the opening game TI took on the 1st place team, the Minnesota Thoroughbreds. After going winless against Minnesota in their first three meetings TI brought their best team effort of the year to the rink and sent the Thoroughbreds away with a 4-3 loss. Goals came from Kirchner (2), Antognoli, and L. Wiedmeier. Assists came from T. Wiedmeier (2) and Morrow. Between the pipes, Leigh Reisberg held back the Thoroughbreds to secure the victory.  

In the second game, TI took on their neighbors to the north, the Wisconsin Wild. In a tough loss, the Wild pulled out a 3-2 victory. Novak scored both TI goals with assists by Morrow and Antognoli. The Wisconsin Wild would ultimately move on to the finals against the Shattuck St. Mary's.  

Later that day TI took on Honeybaked. As with Minnesota, TI lost to Honeybaked in their three meetings earlier this year. And as with the Minnesota game, TI stepped up their level of play to hand the number 3 seed a 5-3 loss. L. Wiedmeier scored in the first, assisted by Rachel Crissy. Levin scored unassisted in the second. After the second period TI was down 3-2. In the 3rd period TI's stingy defense allowed no goals while at the offensive end TI exploded with 3 goals to pull ahead. K. Stefanski (2) and Kirchner scored on assists from Levin (2), Ullrich and Novak.  

The two victories earned TI a 2nd place finish in their bracket and allowed them to advance to the consolation bracket against Little Caesars. Showing that both teams came to play, at the end of regulation, the score was Team Illinois - 2, Little Caesar's - 2. Goals for TI came from Kirchner, assisted by Morrow and Morrow assisted by Novak. Unfortunately, six minutes into the overtime Honeybaked scored to end the game and sent TI home with a 4th place finish.