KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan will be home for the first time in 2024 as it hosts Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 19 and 20 at Lawson Arena. Puck drop for Friday's game is set for 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos dropped their first game of the new year, falling 4-3 at Miami this past Saturday. Dylan Wendt, Matteo Costantini and Samuel Sjolund had goals in the game. Luke Grainger finished the night with two assists. 

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, former teammates Derek Roehl and Brett Beebe and former off-ice official Bill Saunders have joined the festivities thus far, and more players are scheduled to join for upcoming games. 

GOING STREAKING
Linemates Matteo Costantini and Sam Colangelo have had quite the connection throughout the season, especially over the last 10 games. 

In that stretch, Colangelo has totaled 15 points on eight goals and seven assists. He is currently riding a seven-game point streak. Costantini has produced 13 points on two goals and 11 assists, scoring at least one point in each of the team's last 10 contests. 

This recent stretch has helped the duo become two of the best players in the NCHC. Colangelo is currently fifth in goals and eighth in points, while Costantini is 10th in assists and 17th in points. 

On the season, Colangelo has collected 24 points on 14 goals and 10 assists, while Costantini has posted 19 points on five goals and 14 assists. 

GRAINGER DANGER
Senior forward Luke Grainger has continued to improve each season in Kalamazoo, and 2023-24 has been his best yet. Despite playing in just 20 games, he has produced career highs in points (33) and assists (26), while being just five goals away from a career high in that category. 

His career year has him leading the NCAA in assists, while being just one point behind the nation's leader. 

For his career, Grainger is nearing 100 points, as he's currently sitting at 88 points on 31 goals and 57 assists. Should he reach that mark, he'd become the 61st player in program history to reach 100 career points an the first since Ethen Frank in 2021-22. 

WENDT'S WORLD
After producing 25 points on nine goals and 16 assists during his first two seasons in Kalamazoo, junior winger Dylan Wendt has taken his game to another level for the 2023-24 campaign. 

Through 20 games this season, Wendt has 29 points on 17 goals and 12 assists, which gives him career highs in points and goals. He is just two assists away from matching his career-best total. 

With his exceptional play, he's putting the nation on notice. He ranks second in the nation in goals and sixth in points. He trails the national goals leader by one and the national points leader by five. 

GETTING IT DONE IN THE DOT
Western Michigan has been excellent at winning draws this season, as the team currently sits at 13th in the nation and third in the NCHC with a mark of 53.5 percent. 

A big reason for WMU's success on faceoffs has been Tim Washe, who leads the team with a 64.2 winning percentage. That number is the best in the NCHC by nearly four percent. 

Luke Grainger has also been strong at winning draws, as he currently sits at 51.7 percent, which is good for 14th in the conference.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Minnesota Duluth is 4-5-1 over its last 10 games, including a 3-4-1 NCHC record. The Bulldogs are currently sixth in the NCHC with a 3-6-1 conference mark. 

Despite their struggles, UMD boasts a talented lineup, spearheaded by Ben Steeves. Steeves leads the team in points with 22 on 15 goals and seven assists. 

Aiding the attack have been Owen Gallatin and Quinn Olson, who have combined for 31 points on eight goals and 23 assists. 

In net, the Bulldogs have two quality goaltenders, with Zach Stejskal being the top option. He has started 14 games this season, boasting a 6-5-3 record, 2.54 goals against average, .912 save percentage and one shutout. 

Matthew Thiessen has started seven games in net, producing a 3.51 goals against average, .898 save percentage and 1-5-1 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. 11 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.