Senior forward Gregory Etingen leads the Illini with 40 points this year, but his role on the team expands well beyond his production. 

“I feel a great responsibility,” Etingen said. “I know that every game I have to show up and produce in order for our team to win, which is a privilege and a great feeling.”

In his junior season, Etingen produced 26 points in just 22 games. He says that what’s clicked for him in his senior season has been simplifying his game and having a “shoot-first” mentality. Etingen also said that he’s been putting less pressure on perfecting plays and simply utilizing his experience to move the puck to high-scoring zones on the ice.  

“Part of that is also not always looking for the prettiest play, but just trying to find open guys more quickly,” Etingen said. 

Shouldering responsibility 

As a veteran and leading scorer, Etingen said he feels a weight of responsibility, but also a great amount of privilege. Having this level of responsibility has put pressure on him to do his job as a forward consistently, something Etingen says he takes pride in. 

While having to show up and produce for the team to perform well is his responsibility as an offensive leader, he also says it has caused him to change the way he approaches practices and games.

Like any athlete, Etingen has struggled with producing at times. When he’s not putting points on the board, he finds other ways to contribute. As a leader on the team, he focuses on his playmaking or his defense instead of offense. Scoring or not, Etingen says his priority is contributing to the team in any way possible.

A line that clicks

Right behind Etingen on the score sheet are sophomore forward Carson Mitchell (31 pts.) and junior forward David Etingen (28 pts.), both of whom he credits to his success. 

“I think we’ve built some great chemistry together, especially playing on the power play together at times over the past two years,” Gregory Etingen said.

The chemistry has translated to smoother puck movement on the power play. Mitchell leads the team in power-play goals with 10, while David (4) and Gregory (3) are also among the team leaders. 

The Etingen brothers are in their third season as teammates on Illinois, and their pairing has greatly benefited the team’s point production. Years of playing on the same line have given the brothers a natural chemistry, built on understanding each other’s instincts and tendencies. 

Gregory Etingen says having a sense of each other’s instincts and habits has allowed them to contribute a great deal to the team.

Experience in action

According to head coach John Opilka, Gregory Etingen is a valued and respected presence both in the locker room and on the ice. Though not overly vocal, Opilka notes that Etingen leads by example and sets the tone through his actions. 

“I think the thing that separates Gregory is his ability to push the pace of play,” Opilka said. “He is able to process and make plays at a high speed, which is a cornerstone of a special player.” 

Additionally, Etingen is able to apply his experience to seemingly every situation. In high-pressure moments, he relies on it, knowing he’s been there before. 

Off the ice

According to Etingen, his biggest pre-game superstition is being last off the ice after warmups alongside his brother, David. He must also do handshakes in the locker room with David and junior forward Anthony Varassi at the same time before each period begins. 

When he’s off the ice, you might find Gregory Etingen in the kitchen. 

“Something fans might not know about me off the ice is that I love to cook and have gotten pretty good at it over the years,” Etingen said.  

From pregame routines with teammates to making plays in high-pressure moments, Etingen has grown into a leader and steady point producer that Illinois can rely on.

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