THIS WEEK
After a break the fourth-ranked Western Michigan briefly resumes play to take on Michigan State in East Lansing in the Great Lakes Invitational Showcase on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game can be heard live on the Bronco Media Network on 590 AM/106.9 FM WKZO and at
www.wkzo.com. A stream is available on Big Ten Network Plus.
WMU was scheduled to play No. 3 Michigan on Thursday, but the Wolverines canceled the game due to health and welfare protocol issues within their program.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos split with No. 14 Omaha after a 4-2 win on Friday, Dec. 10 and a 1-0 loss on Saturday.
In Friday's win the Broncos picked up goals from
Tim Washe,
Luke Grainger and two from
Ethen Frank. Washe gave WMU an early 1-0 lead after creating a turnover in the UNO zone and scoring unassisted at 2:21. Grainger then scored on a penalty shot, the first successful penalty shot by a Bronco since Oct. 23, 2009 when Cam Watson beat Alabama-Huntsville's Cam Talbot. A power play goal by Frank made it 3-0 just 28 seconds into the second period. UNO added a power play goal of its own to cut the lead to 3-1, before taking the lead down to one with a goal at 11:11 in the third period. Frank sealed the win with an empty-net goal.
On Saturday Chayse Primeau scored 42 seconds into the second period for the game's lone goal. WMU outshot UNO 41-26 but was unable to get anything past Isaiah Saville.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Broncos have seven of their next nine games on the road, beginning with the GLI Showcase game at Michigan State on Wednesday. The Broncos open 2022 with two games at Colorado College and follow it with a home series against North Dakota before back-to-back road trips at Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State.
Being on the road hasn't been an issue for WMU so far this season. The team has posted an 8-2-0 record away from. The Broncos have shown the ability to light the lamp in road contests with seven of the eight wins involving them scoring at least four goals. Overall the team has posted a 4.60 scoring average, while holding opponents to 3.0 goals per game.
Senior forward
Drew Worrad and junior defenseman
Ronnie Attard have been the top point producers for Western Michigan away from Lawson Ice Arena. Worrad has 16 points on three goals and 13 assists, while Attard has 15 on five goals and 10 assists. Senior forward
Cole Gallant has tallied 12 of his 15 points this season on the road, including all six goals.
WMU is currently on a four-game road winning streak and is 6-0 on the road in non-conference play.
STILL AT THE TOP
Thanks to his two goals in the Omaha series, fifth-year senior forward
Ethen Frank still sits at the top of the goal-scoring rankings in the nation. Frank sits at 17 goals, the most scored by a Bronco since Matheson Iacopelli netted 20 in 40 games during the 2016-17 team.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
This is the first meeting between the Spartans (10-7-1, 5-5-0 B1G) and the Broncos since Oct. 20-21, 2017. The teams split in a home-and-home series with the home team being the victor in each. MSU leads the all-time series at 66-34-8.
The Spartans head into Wednesday's game winning six of their last eight before the holiday break.
MSU averages 2.4 goals per game so far this season. Fifth-year senior Mitchell Lewandowski leads the team in points and assists despite playing in only 13 of the 18 games this year. Lewandowski has 18 points on 11 assists and seven goals. Sophomore forward, and Kalamazoo native, Jeremy Davidson leads the team in goals scored with eight and is second in points with 13. Senior defenseman Dennis Cesana is the top point producer from the blue line with 10 points on five goals and five assists.
Defensively, Michigan State is allowing just 2.5 goals per game thanks to the stingy play of senior netminder Drew DeRidder. DeRidder has started and played in 12 of the 18 games this season, posting a 7-4-1 record with a 1.99 goals against average, a .945 save percentage and two shutouts.
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan has next weekend off before heading out west to take on Colorado College on Jan. 14-15. Friday's puck drop is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. and Saturday's at 8 p.m. Both games will be carried live on NCHC.tv and can be heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
