He also sends out contracts to visiting teams to ensure that they come to play. In the past, the team utilized the services of a University business student to handle the position. Besides, Erik said he doesn't mind doing the job for free. I wanted to be a part of the team. Erik is not the only volunteer helping the team.
Volunteers help run the team's concession stand, operate the scoreboard and sell advertisements.
Illini players Jeremy and Jason Hayes's father prints the team's program, one of the best in all of college hockey, for no charge. Even the coaches don't earn money unless the team makes a profit during the season. Carle Clinic in Urbana supplies the team with a trainer at no cost to the team. Carle pays for the trainer, John Gardner, and does not receive anything in return financially. Gardner said the clinic supplies the trainer as a community service.