Men's Ice Hockey | February 20, 2017

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team has jumped up to No. 6 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll for its highest ranking in the poll since Nov. 7, 2011.

Fresh off of the first sweep of North Dakota in program history, WMU earned 316 points in the poll to move up from last week's ranking of No. 9.  The Broncos also maintained their No. 8 spot in the US College Hockey Online poll. Western Michigan also has moved up to No. 5 in the Pairwise rankings, a system used to project the NCAA Tournament field.

The sweep of the Fighting Hawks also improved WMU's chances of securing home-ice advantage in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference playoffs. The Broncos sit sole possession of third place in the NCHC and can lock up home ice if they earn at least four points at Colorado College this weekend.

Western Michigan takes on the Tigers in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 8 p.m. Both games can be seen live on NCHC.tv and heard on the Bronco Radio Network.