THIS WEEK
The 13th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team continues National Collegiate Hockey Conference play this weekend, hosting No. 2 St. Cloud State on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and visiting www.wmubroncos.com/tickets. Both games will also be streamed live on NCHC.tv and covered on the Bronco Media Network.
 
LAST WEEK
The Broncos went on the road for the first time in NCHC play and were swept by the Denver Pioneers, falling 5-3 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday.
 
On Friday the Broncos took the lead just 43 seconds into the game on a shot from the blue line by Michael Joyaux. Cameron Wright tied it up at 5:16 in the period but Drew Worrad gave the Broncos the lead back with a goal with 52.1 seconds left in the first. Denver scored three straight goals to open the second period and take a 4-2 lead before Josh Passolt cut it to one on a power play goal at 11:28. Carter Savoie added his first of three goals on the weekend at 10:27 to put the game out of reach.
 
Max Sasson gave Western Michigan the lead in the first period of Saturday's game on his first collegiate goal at 9:36. Carter Mazure tied it up for DU just 1:07 later before Worrad scored his second of the weekend at 17:32 on the power play to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead. From there it was all Pioneers, scoring four goals in the second period and holding WMU scoreless in the third to finish off the game.
 
BACK ON TRACK
Senior forward Drew Worrad and fifth-year senior Ethen Frank resumed their point producing after being blanked in the shutout loss to No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth. Worrad had four points in the weekend series at Denver with a goal and an assist in each game, while Frank had an assist in each. Worrad has tallied a point in eight of the team's 10 games this season for a team-best 16 points on four goals and 12 assists. He has had at least two points in seven of the 10 games. Frank sits just two points behind Worrad with 14 points on a team-best eight goals and six assists. He has tallied at least a point in nine of the team's 10 games this season.
 
WORRAD'S WORLD
Senior forward Drew Worrad came into his senior season off a career-best junior campaign that saw him lead the Broncos with 23 points on five goals and 18 assists in 25 games. Worrad has increased his production every season and the progression can be seen through the first 10 games. As a freshman he tallied six points on two goals and four assists in his first 10. As a sophomore it increased to eight points on four goals and four assists. As a junior he bumped it up again to 10 on two goals and eight assists. The first 10 of his senior season has seen an even bigger jump with 16 points on four goals and 12 assists.
 
No. 2 ST. CLOUD STATE HUSKIES
- THE SERIES: St. Cloud State leads the all-time series at 18-10-4, with a 7-4-3 record at Lawson Ice Arena. Over the last 10 games the Broncos have got the better of the Huskies, going 6-4-0, including a combined 6-2-0 the past two seasons. Seniors Cole Gallant and Michael Joyaux each have 10 points in 10 career games against SCSU. Joyaux made history last season becoming the first defenseman in the NCHC to ever record a hat trick. He has five of his 10 career goals against the Huskies and also has five assists. Gallant has one goal and nine career assists against St. Cloud State.
 
- SCOUTING THE HUSKIES: After spending two straight weeks at No. 1, St. Cloud State dropped to second in both national polls after splitting with Omaha in its NCHC opening series. The Huskies won the opening night game 5-1 but fell 3-2 in overtime on Saturday. SCSU has not been ranked lower than third so far this season.
 
The Huskies average 3.75 goals per game through 12 games this season, ranking ninth in the nation. Kevin Fitzgerald has a team-high 16 points on 10 assists and six goals. Fifth-year senior Fitzgerald is one of three SCSU players that are tied for the team lead with six goals, joined by junior forward Jami Krannila and fifth-year senior Easton Brodzinski. Kranilla has five assists for 11 total points, second-most on the team. Fifth-year senior Seamus Donohue is the top point man from the blue line with seven points, all assists.
 
St. Cloud State has the second-best scoring defense in the nation, allowing just 1.50 goals per game. Fifth-year senior David Hrenak has started in 11 of the 12 games this season, posting an 8-3-0 record with one shutout, a 1.50 goals against average and a .939 save percentage. SCSU has also limited teams to just 26.17 shots per game.
 
The Huskies power play is also ranked second in the nation at 35.2 percent (19-for-54). Fitzgerald has four of his six goals with the man advantage, while Krannila, Brodzinski and Zach Okabe each have three. The penalty kill ranks 16th in the nation at 85.4 percent (35-for-41) and SCSU has also scored five short-handed goals on the year.
 
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan heads back to the state of New York to take on St. Lawrence next Friday and Saturday. The series will pit the Broncos against WMU hockey alum Brent Brekke, who coached the Saints to an ECAC Tournament Championship last season.