It was probably the most exciting game of hockey Eastern’s RSO hockey team played all year. Both losses to the McKendree Bearcats this weekend at Danville’s David S. Palmer Arena came in the shootout.

Looking to revenge their first two losses of the year against the Bearcats that came back in October, Eastern gave a tough performance through three and then some.

For a while the third period looked ugly as McKendree took a comfortable 9-6 lead on an unanswered three straight goals scored on complete game goalie Brian Blake.

But the score escalated in the football realm as Seachrist contributed with two and Joe Kopka chipped in one to make it tied at 9. The Bearcats answered right back with two scores not even two minutes apart and seemed to think the game was sealed 11-9 with 2:43 left to play.

Following Kopka’s second goal of the day, he yelled over to the McKendree bench, “You like that? That’s the second one of the day.”

Kopka, who normally played in the shadows of the starters this year, got his chance against McKendree and made the most of it. He wasn’t ready to give up with 11 seconds to go with Eastern down 11-10. He wanted to keep playing. Kopka’s hat trick lifted the Eastern bench and morale into the stratosphere and most importantly, ended the third 11-11.

New head coach Danny Gillespie called for the shootout; Eastern’s starting line would face McKendree in a final showdown.

Dale ‘Male’ Michonski was the first to take the go. Michonski waited with the puck for a second at center ice, then meandered toward the net..and..and..score one for Eastern!

Following two misses by Dan Seachrist and Derek Hay and two hits by a sly McKendree, they took off to shaking hands, to which Eastern responded, “We still have two shots left!”

Well Kopka was up again and yet again, didn’t want to stop playing. He put it through for a nail-biting 3-2 deficit. It was up to Chris Bennett.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t as lucky. Eastern hasn’t won a series yet in the second semester and will play Bradley next weekend for their last two games of the year. Coach however, is looking for his first win and after playing hockey at Bradley, has some incentive going in.

“We definitely want to beat up on those guys,” Gillespie said.

Kopka is all smiles as his overtime score put Eastern within reach to win Saturday against McKendree. Despite his hat trick, Eastern was unable to pull off the win and lost for the fourth time against the Bearcats this season (Kevin Kenealy/Daily Eastern

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