Men's Ice Hockey | March 02, 2017

THIS WEEK
With third place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference secured, along with home ice in the NCHC Quarterfinals, Western Michigan wraps up the 2016-17 regular season hosting No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Prior to Saturday's game the Broncos will honor the seven-member senior class of Chris Dienes, Sheldon Dries, Taylor Fleming, Aaron Hadley, Mike McKee, Michael Rebry and Collin Olson.

NATIONAL SHOWDOWN SPECIAL
Fans can take advantage of the National Showdown Special for both games this weekend. Tickets are available for just $12 and each ticket comes with a free hot dog, popcorn and small fountain drink (a $20 value). Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at wmubroncos.com/tickets.

LAST WEEK
WMU went on the road to Colorado College and earned four points after a tie and a win against the Tigers. On Friday, Hugh McGing netted the game-tying goal early in the third period to force the 3-3 tie. CC scored with .03 seconds left in the 3-on-3 overtime period to take the extra point. 

Western Michigan dominated the Tigers from the start. A goal midway through the first period by Freddy Tiffels gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Matheson Iacopelli and Cam Lee both added goals in the first half of the second period to push the lead to 3-0. A CC power play goal cut into that lead, making it 3-1, but Corey Schueneman scored with 2:10 left in the second period and McGing added his second goal of the weekend in the third to put the game away, 5-1.  

AT A GLANCE: MINNESOTA-DULUTH // 20-5-7, 14-4-4-3 NCHC
THE SERIES: Minnesota-Duluth leads the all-time series 11-6-1 and holds a 5-1 -0 edge at Lawson Ice Arena.

- THE FIRST TIME AROUND: The two teams met up in Duluth back on Nov. 11 and 12, splitting the series. The Broncos defeated the then No. 1 ranked Bulldogs, 4-3, to open the weekend. UMD got its revenge the following night and shut the Broncos out 2-0. 

- SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS: Minnesota-Duluth comes into the weekend with the NCHC Championship in site. The Bulldogs are four points out of first place behind Denver and need help in order to win their first regular season championship in the NCHC. UMD has the nation's third-longest unbeaten streak, going 8-0-3 over the last 11 games. The last loss came back on Jan. 13, 2-1, against St. Cloud State.

UMD ranks 18th in the nation in scoring offense at 3.16 goals per game. In NCHC play the Bulldogs rank second and the number jumps slightly to 3.32. Senior forward Alex Iafallo leads the team with 34 points on 14 goals and 20 assists. His 14 goals tie him with sophomore Adam Johnson for the team lead. Johnson is third on the team in scoring with 27 points. Sophomore defenseman Neal Pionk is the top-scoring blue-liner and is second on the team with 28 points. Pionk's seven goals are the most among any defenseman on the team and he leads the squad with 21 assists. 

It's pretty much been all Hunter Miska in net for the Bulldogs, who have the fourth-best defense in the nation and allow just 2.03 goals per game. The freshman netminder has started 29 games this season with a 19-4-5 record, a 2.00 goals against average and a .926 save percentage. He is tied for the nation's lead with five shutouts. 

Minnesota-Duluth's power play ranks 15th in the nation at 20.4 percent (29-for-142). Johnson, Iafallo and Pionk form a three-headed monster on the power play. The trio have combined for 13 of the team's 19 power play goals on the season. Senior defenseman Willie Raskob has scored all three of his goals with the man advantage this season. 

THE 2016-17 SENIOR CLASS
Friday and Saturday are the final regular season home games for seniors Chris Dienes, Sheldon Dries, Taylor Fleming, Aaron Hadley, Mike McKee, Collin Olson and Michael Rebry. Combined, the seven have appeared in 727 total games, scoring 78 goals and 153 assists for 231 total points. 

Dries, the captain of the team, has appeared in the most games at 144 (all stats prior to Friday's game). He also has the most combined points at 79 on 40 goals and 39 assists. All seven have earned Academic All-NCHC honors at least once in their careers. All seven are also on schedule to graduate, with Olson holding the highest GPA of the class at 3.97. 

With the exception of Olson, who transferred in for the 2014-15 season, the remaining six are the first class in WMU hockey history to play the entirety of their careers in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. 

THE ONE AND ONLY
Last Saturday head coach Andy Murray earned his 100th career with with Western Michigan. Murray became the first head coach in hockey history to win 100 games in NCAA Ice Hockey and 300 games in the National Hockey League. Currently, Murray is one of only 48 head coaches to ever win at least 300 games in the NHL. 

RACKING UP THE HARDWARE
Sheldon Dries was recently named NCHC player of the Month for February. It is the third monthly award for the Broncos this season. In addition, WMU has won 13 NCHC weekly awards this season.