Men's Ice Hockey | November 30, 2016

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan returns to National Collegiate Hockey Conference action for its final home series of the 2016 portion of the season, hosting St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Both games can be streamed live via NCHC.tv. Due to the MAC Championship football game, Friday's game can be heard live on 590 AM WKZO and at wkzo.com. Saturday's game can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network's 96.5FM and online at z965.com. 

LAST TIME OUT
WMU had a bye week last weekend but prior to that hosted the Air Force Academy, tying and beating the Falcons. The Broncos opened the first game of the series with a big first period, scoring four goals to take a 4-2 lead. AF responded with two goals in the second period to cut the lead to 5-4 heading into the final period. Matt Pulver netted the game-tying goal with 5:24 remaining in regulation. Neither team took advantage of the overtime and it was settled as a 5-5 tie. Griffen Molino netted two goals on the night, while Taylor Fleming led the way with three assists.

On Saturday the two teams both netted goals in the first period, but Western Michigan took control in the second. Matheson Iacopelli scored twice to give WMU a 3-1 lead, while the team outshot Air Force 18-8. Scott Moldenhauer added an empty-net goal, while Collin Olson made 18 saves in his season debut to earn the 4-1 win. 

AT A GLANCE: #17/RV ST. CLOUD STATE // 6-6-0, 2-4-0-0 NCHC
- THE SERIES: Western Michigan trails the all-time series 3-9-2. Last season the Huskies got the best of the Broncos in all six games played. 

- SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: St. Cloud State was also on a bye week last weekend and in its prior action was swept at home and held scoreless by North Dakota. SCSU has not lit the lamp in seven periods, with the last goal coming in the second period of its 4-1 win at Colorado College on Nov. 12. The Huskies started off the season with a 4-2-0 record but have since gone 2-4-0.

Despite the goal drought, the St. Cloud State offense is a potent one that ranks 14th in the nation and averages 3.42 goals per game. The offense remains strong even though the Huskies lost all of its top five scorers from last season, a combined 78 goals and 220 total points. Junior forward Judd Peterson finished third on the team in goals scored last season with 16 and is almost halfway there in 12 games this campaign with a team-high seven. The Buffalo Sabres draft pick also has three assists and is one of three players tied for the team lead with 10 points. Junior Blake Winiecki and sophomore Mikey Eyssimont both sit tied for second on the team with six goals. Talented freshman Jack Ahcan is the top scoring threat from the blue line so far this season. Ahcan has two goals and eight assists, while sophomore defenseman Jimmy Schuldt has two goals and six assists. 

Defensively the Huskies have not had an easy go of it, ranking 51st in the nation in goals allowed at 3.42 per game. Freshman netminder Zach Driscoll has seen the bulk of the action, starting in eight games and playing in nine. Driscoll has a 5-4-0 record with a 3.22 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. Sophomore Jeff Smith has played in six games and starting in four. He holds a 1-2-0 record with a 3.35 goals against average.

SCSU's power play is tied for 32nd in the nation at 16.7 percent (9-of-54). Eyssimont leads the team with three power play goals, while Winiecki is the only other Husky with more than one. The penalty kill ranks 47th in the nation at 79.5 percent (35-of-44) but are the third least penalized team in the nation at just 10 minutes per game. 

THAT MAKES TWO
Matheson Iacopelli earned his second NCHC Offensive Player of the Week award after scoring two goals and tallying two assists in the series against Air Force. He has single-handily doubled the number off Offensive Player of the Week awards from last season to this season. Last season only Aaron Hadley earned the award. 

IT'S BEEN AWHILE
Western Michigan makes in appearance in both national polls this week for the first time March 11, 2013. WMU comes in at 16 in the USCHO.com poll and 13 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The Broncos had been on the verge of cracking the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine top 15, receiving votes in each of the three previous polls leading up to this week's.

THREE, IT'S A MAGIC NUMBER
For the second time this season, senior defenseman Taylor Fleming matched his career high with three assists in the 5-5 tie against Air Force. Fleming is tied with sophomore forward Matheson Iacopelli and junior defenseman Scott Moldenhauer for the team lead in three-point games with two. 

JOIN THE STAMPEDE
Bronco Hockey is making an appearance in the 2016 Great Lakes Invitational on Thursday, December 29 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. This will be the last GLI at the Joe and we're having a pre-game Stampede Tailgate in the Olympia Club.

The Stampede Tailgate will feature a tailgate-style food buffet (until 6 p.m.), two drink tickets (beer or wine), unlimited non-alcoholic beverages, and fun activities for Broncos of all ages including indoor tailgate games and photo stations. Music will be provided by DJ Armando. 

Admission is limited to the first 400 Bronco fans who register. For more information and to register visit www.mywmu.com/GLI