Division II Season Preview

Head Coach: Michael Hernbrott (5th Season)

2016 Record: 7-22

2016-17 KEY STATS AND INFORMATION

Goals Per Game: 2.63

Shots Per Game: 29.00

Save Percentage: 88.0%

Penalty Kill Percentage: 78.91%

Last season, the Redbirds were in the second year of transitioning to the ACHA Division II level and despite started the season with 13 freshmen on the team, made the MACHA Gold playoffs. In 2016-17 the team had big wins over No. 9-ranked Michigan and an undefeated Iowa team that finished the season with just two home losses.

KEY GAMES

This season the Redbirds will play their home opening series against Northern Illinois University on Friday, September 22 and Saturday, September 23 from the Pepsi Ice Center. With the addition of Bradley to the MACHA Gold conference, the Redbirds now have two Central Illinois rivalry games during the season. In 2017, ISU has agreed to do home and home games with both the University of Illinois and Bradley University.  The ACHA Division II Redbird hockey team hopes that fans will not only attend our home Pepsi Ice Center games, but also make the short trips to Champaign and Peoria in support.

COACH HERNBROTT’S 2017 GOALS

“Our goals are the same as every year.  Be the best team we are capable of being.  We need to work for each other and never let each other down.  That means working hard every practice.  Working hard every shift.  If we do those things day in and day out.  We can be one of the top teams in MACHA Gold and earn our way to a Regional playoff bid.  That will give us a shot to return to Nationals.”

“We have some strong leaders returning.  Anthony Salerno, Steve Meister, Joey Burbano, and Tyler Shures, among others.  They've been playing for me for a few years and know what I expect.  I'm sure they will not only play well but also mentor our younger players on what it takes to win at this level.  Both on and off the ice.”

TOP PLAYERS LOST

• Matt Kostopoulos, “Losing his playmaking skills will create some challenges and opportunities for our younger players”
• Trevor Hansen and Matt Mullally, each moved up to the Division I team for the 2017 season.

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• Tyler Shures, selected as a ACHA D2 Select All-Star. Scored six goals with nine assists last season. Five goals came on power plays and he assisted on four.
• Joey Burbano, selected as a ACHA D2 Select All-Star. Scored seven goals with 10 assists last season. Tied with Shures for the team lead in power play goals (5).
• Josh Searles, selected as a ACHA D2 Select All-Star. Had seven assists and one goal as a defenseman. Four assists came on power play goals.

NEWCOMERS/PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Shane Ronan, Maine High School, “He sees the ice very well and will make his linemates even better.  He reminds me in many ways of Matt Kostopoulos.”
• Brennan Begner, Peoria Mustangs, “Brennen is the type of player who will jump in and be successful right away. He also adds great depth to the organization for the future.”
• Tyler Kuhn, Peoria Mustangs, finished the season with five goals and seven assists for the Mustangs. Added three points in the playoffs for Peoria last season.
• Sophomore goaltender Tyler Arneson, has an opportunity to secure the #1 goaltender spot this season.

NOTES FROM COACH HERNBROTT

“As this will be my 5th season in the program, I love to see the bonding that takes place to create an inner circle.  Once they have that bond and commitment to one another, they will accomplish great things.”

“It’s a gauntlet to make this program.  These athletes come out to our prospect camps in the spring.  They make a commitment to come to the school. They must be disciplined in their conditioning and nutrition all summer.  They come to our Red/White camp in July.  They do all this for the "chance" to make the program.  Every year we are contacted by well over 200 players expressing a desire to make our program.  We will add maybe a dozen of those players to one of our teams.  It is that commitment and the love of the game that will help us achieve our goals.”