THIS WEEK
The eighth-ranked Western Michigan hockey team wraps up the 2021-22 regular season hosting Miami on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Prior to the start of Saturday's game the Broncos will take time to honor its seven-member senior class. Both games can be streamed live on NCHC.tv and heard live on the Bronco Radio Network.
LAST WEEK
Western Michigan suffered just its second sweep of the season, falling on the road at NCHC-leaders North Dakota 2-1, and 5-2.
In the series opener the Fighting Hawks took a 1-0 lead with a goal at 13:41 in the first period. WMU responded to tie it up at 7:28 in the second, with freshman defenseman Jacob Bauer scoring his first collegiate goal. Matteo Constantini netted the game-winner for UND at 13:53 in the second period. North Dakota goalie Zach Driscoll made 34 saves on the night.
UND opened Saturday's game with three straight goals in the first period to put the Broncos an in early hole. Jason Polin tallied on the power play in the final minute to cut the lead to 3-1 going into the second period. Judd Caufield's second goal of the night, this time short-handed, put the Fighting Hawks up 4-1 before Josh Passolt cut it to 4-2 at 8:21 in the third period. Carson Albrecht ended the comeback bid, making it 5-2 on a goal at 13:42.
SENIOR STATS
Prior to the start of Saturday's game the Broncos will take time to recognize its senior class of Ethen Frank, Cole Gallant, Michael Joyaux, Jared Kucharek, Josh Passolt, Jamie Rome and Drew Worrad. Frank and Passolt are both in their fifth years, electing to return this season after using their extra year of eligibility granted to them by the NCAA due to COVID-19.
Prior to the weekend's series with Miami the seven have combined for 777 career games played, 173 goals scored, 283 assists and 456 career points. Passolt leads the class with 156 career games played, just 12 shy of the program record. Frank is the top scorer of the group with 112 points after exploding for 33 so far this season.
The group has also combined for 26 NCHC Academic All-Conference selections, along with eight NCHC Scholar Athlete honors.
CLINCHED
Western Michigan earned home ice for the NCHC Quarterfinals next weekend and can either finish in third our fourth in the standings. This is the fourth time the Broncos will have finished in the top four and the third time the team will host (2020 was cancelled due to COVID-19).
JUST TWO MORE
The Broncos head into the series with Miami with 12 conference wins. With one more victory, WMU can tie the 2016-17 and 2018-19 teams for the most NCHC wins in program history. A sweep of the RedHawks would set the new record at 14.
With two more wins the Broncos would also get to 22 for the season, matching the 2016-17 team for the most wins since the 1995-96 team put up 27.
THE MIAMI REDHAWKS (7-23-2, 4-15-1, 8th NCHC)
- THE SERIES: After a sweep back in December, the Broncos have extended their slim advantage in the all-time series to 75-70-13. WMU is 13-2-2 in the last 17 games against Miami. Ronnie Attard leads all Broncos in scoring against the RedHawks with 15 points on five goals and 10 assists in 12 games. Ethen Frank has 13 points on eight goals and five assists. Brandon Bussi is 7-0-1 all-time against the RedHawks.
- SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS, AGAIN: Miami heads up to Kalamazoo riding high after a split with Minnesota-Duluth, posting a 4-0 shutout win in the series finale. Miami is 3-3-0 in the last six games with a home sweep over Omaha to go along with the win against the Bulldogs. The RedHawks are 3-12-1 on the road this season, including 1-8-1 in conference play.
Senior defenseman Derek Daschke leads the team in scoring with 25 points on three goals and 22 assists. Matthew Barbolini and Ryan Savage lead the team in goals scored with nine each, while P.J. Fletcher and Chase Gresock have eight. Gresock has only played in 17 games due to injury but since returning back on Feb. 11 for the Omaha series the Merrimack transfer has posted five goals and five assists in the past six games, failing to tally a point in just one.
Ludvig Persson has played in 28 of the 32 games this season, posting a 6-19-2 record, a 3.91 goals against average and a point .893 save percentage. Despite the rough numbers, he remains one of the top netminders in the NCHC, making a total of 93 saves in the split with the Bulldogs.
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan knows its hosting next weekend in the NCHC Quarterfinals but will not know its opponent until the conclusion of the regular season on Saturday night. The NCHC Quarterfinals are scheduled for next Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary) at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets and all games will be streamed live on NCHC.tv.
