KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan will look to continue its winning streak with Lindenwood in town for a pair of games this weekend. The Broncos and Lions will square off on Friday and Saturday at Lawson Arena.   

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos were able to complete the series sweep of St. Lawrence last Saturday, notching a 4-0 shutout. Dylan Wendt, Tim Washe, Owen Michaels and Sam Colangelo lit the lamp in the series finale, pushing WMU's win streak to four games.

50 YEARS OF BRONCO HOCKEY
WMU will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of varsity hockey this season, which will be commemorated in a variety of ways. Along with a 50th anniversary logo at center ice, there will be special in-game tributes to former players and teams and an alumni weekend for the Colorado College series on January 26 and 27. 

Throughout the season, WMU will welcome back former captains and key players from the last 50 years to participate in a One Last Lap promotion, along with other events. Former coach Bill Wilkinson, former captains Brian Tulik and Brent Brekke, former NHLer Joe Corvo and former teammates Derek Roehl and Brett Beebe have joined the festivities thus far, and more players are scheduled to join for upcoming games. 

ROWE SELECTED AS NCHC GOALIE OF THE MONTH
After an excellent month of November, senior goaltender Cameron Rowe was selected as the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Goalie of the Month on Tuesday, Nov. 28. 

Rowe was outstanding in eight games, finishing the month with a 5-3-0 record, 196 saves, .938 save percentage, 1.64 goals against average and two shutouts. 

The Wilmette, Ill. native has the Broncos on a four-game winning streak and has allowed just two goals in his last four games. 

HEATIN' UP
After a 1-3 start to the month of November, the Broncos have started to turn the corner and finished the month with four consecutive wins. That run includes sweeps of Colorado College and St. Lawrence. 

In that stretch, Western Michigan has outscored opponents, 16-2, including a pair of shutouts from Cameron Rowe. 

Rowe has been pivotal in the turnaround, boasting a 4-0-0 record, 0.50 goals against average, .980 save percentage, 99 saves and two shutouts during the last four games.  

It hasn't just been Rowe, however, as the first line has been exceptional over the last two weeks. Leading the way has been Dylan Wendt, who has nine points on four goals and five assists in that stretch. 

Not far behind are Luke Grainger and Alex Bump. Grainger has tallied eight points on two goals and six assists, while Bump has added five points on two goals and three assists. 

Defensively, Samuel Sjolund and Zak Galambos have been strong, combining for seven points on two goals and five assists, while blocking seven shots. 

During the four-game winning streak, 14 players have at least one point and 11 have more than one. 

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Over the first couple months of the season, Luke Grainger, Dylan Wendt and Cameron Rowe have been outstanding at their respective positions. Each player is among the nation's best in a variety of statistical categories. 

Grainger is third in assists per game (1.17), fifth in points per game (1.67) and assists (14), and seventh in points (20). Overall, he has six goals and 14 assists on the season. 

Wendt is tied-for-fourth in goals (10), fifth in goals per game (0.83), and tied-for-10th in points (19) and power-play goals (4). The junior forward has 10 goals and nine assists this season. 

In net, Rowe has been a rock throughout the 2023-24 campaign. He is tied-for-fifth in the nation in shutouts (2), tied-for-seventh in wins (8), ninth in goals against average (2.00) and tied-for-15th in save percentage (.922). 

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Lindenwood enters having lost three in a row, giving up an average of more than seven goals per game in that stretch. 

On the season, the Lions average under three goals per game, while allowing just under five. Additionally, LU is getting just over 25 shots per game, while letting up nearly 44. 

Leading the way for Lindenwood has been the duo of Kyle Jeffers and Jake Southgate, who each have 10 points on five goals and five assists. 

In net, Trent Burnham has started all but one game, producing a 3-8-1 record, 4.43 GAA, .896 save percentage and 459 saves. Matthew Syverson has seen action in five games, and he currently sits with a 5.74 GAA, .850 save percentage and 0-1-0 record. 

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Since early in the 2021-22 season Western Michigan has been consistently among the top teams in the nation, and the polls reflect that. WMU has made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments and cracked the top-five of the USCHO poll each of the last two seasons. 

The Broncos have been ranked in the top-20 since Oct. 11, 2021 and currently sit at No. 14 in nation. 

A CHANCE AT HISTORY
The 2023-24 Broncos will have a chance to make history, as the program has never reached the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons. WMU has made back-to-back appearances on two separate occasions (2011 & 2012, 2022 & 2023). 

In 2022, the Brown and Gold earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament and picked up the first NCAA Tournament win in program history. The Broncos upended Northeastern, 2-1, in overtime.