The top ranked Lindenwood men's ice hockey team won the CSCHL conference tournament championship for the first time in school history Sunday afternoon, shutting out Ohio University 4-0 in Ames, Iowa.

The Lions, who had lost three straight to the Bobcats, avenged a pair of losses earlier in the year that gave Ohio the regular season conference title.

Neeco Belanger put the Lions up 1-0 midway through the first with his fifth power play goal of the tournament. The score would remain that way until late in the second, when Grant Gorczyca scored on the power play, pushing the lead to two.

In the third, the Lions would add the finishing touches with goals from Colin Long and Carson Hamil. Long's tally was the third power play goal of the day for Lindenwood.

Robi Cavallari, who was named the tournament MVP, stopped 22 shots to earn his fourth shutout of the year.

Cory Spradling, Adam Krefski, and Long were named second-team All-Conference selections, and Gorczyca was tabbed Rookie of the Year.

On Saturday, Lindenwood advanced to the tournament championship with a 4-1 win over the University of Illinois.

The Lions had won eight straight against their conference rival, but the Illini snapped that streak two weeks ago with a 4-3 overtime shootout win. Lindenwood jumped on No. 4 Illinois late in the first period and pulled away for the win in the second.

With less than seven minutes remaining in the opening period, Hamil scored to give the Lions a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Hamil scored again to push the lead to two.

For the second straight day, Belanger scored a power play goal in the opening minutes of the second period, and after Illinois scored to close the gap with a tally, Belanger netted his fourth power play score of the weekend to propel the Lions into the title game.

Cavallari got the win in goal and Bret Morrell added a pair of assists.

On Friday, Lindenwood advanced to the semifinals with 6-3 win over Western Michigan in the opening round of the conference tournament. 

Adam Krefski opened the scoring with a goal early in the first period, but Western Michigan scored seconds later to even the score at one. Midway through the frame, Morrell netted a power play goal to put the Lions back on top. The Broncos scored once again to tie the game at two. Moments later, Belanger converted on the power play to put the Lions ahead for good.

Belanger scored his second straight power play goal in the opening minutes of the second period, stretching the Lindenwood lead to 4-2. With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Western Michigan scored on a power play opportunity to cut the deficit to one, but the Lions push the lead back to two in the final seconds of the frame on Krefski's second tally.

In the third, Hamil capped the scoring with his fifth goal of the season. Cavallari earned the win in goal and Chad Boeckman finished with a pair of assists.

Lindenwood (38-5, 16-4) will be the top seed in the upcoming ACHA
National Tournament that begins March 6.