Illinois Fighting Illini men's ice hockey
The Illinois Fighting Illini men's ice hockey team is a college ice hockey program that represents the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. The Illini play on campus at historic 1,500-seat University of Illinois Ice Arena. They are a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) at the ACHA Division I level. The team is a former member of the Central States Collegiate Hockey League (CSCHL) within the ACHA. The team operates as a registered student organization (RSO) at the University of Illinois. The university does not currently have an NCAA varsity team, and thus the club team is the highest level of hockey offered by the university. A feasibility study published in March 2018, and commissioned by the NHL, NHLPA, and College Hockey, Inc., found a high probability of success for the hockey program to transition to NCAA Division I. Illinois however reversed course in May 2022, announcing that they were no longer exploring adding a varsity hockey program.
| Illinois Fighting Illini men's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
| University | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign |
| Conference | Independent |
| Head coach | John Opilka 1st season |
| Arena | University of Illinois Ice Arena Champaign, Illinois |
| Colors | Orange and blue |
| ACHA Tournament championships | |
| 2005, 2008 | |
| ACHA Tournament appearances | |
| 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |
| Conference Tournament championships | |
| 1986, 1988, 1992, 2003, 2006, 2008 | |
| Conference regular season championships | |
| 2003, 2008, 2013 | |