KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan opens a two-game series with #16-Colorado College on Friday night at Lawson Arena. Puck drop for the series opener is set for 7 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite trailing by two goals after one period, the Broncos were able to respond with five unanswered goals to claim a 5-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth last Saturday. WMU had five different goal scorers, including Sam Colangelo who netted the game winner. The Brown and Gold also got goals from Chad Hillebrand, Carter Berger, Dylan Wendt and Luke Grainger. 

50 YEARS OF BRONCO HOCKEY
Throughout the season, WMU has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of varsity hockey, which has included a 50th anniversary logo at center ice and tributes to former players and coaches. 

This week, the program welcomes back a bunch of former players and coaches for alumni weekend at Lawson Arena. The weekend series will begin with a special recognition of former WMU captain Danny DeKeyser, who was recently inducted into the Bronco Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Also planned is a ceremonial puck drop with two WMU legends and a special in-game tribute to welcome back all of the former players and coaches that are back in town this weekend. 

So far this season, Western Michigan has honored 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. 

COSTANTINI'S INCREDIBLE RUN
Matteo Costantini came to Western Michigan as a transfer from North Dakota this offseason and has done nothing but produce offensively for the Broncos. 

In 22 games this season, the junior center has posted 22 points on six goals and 16 assists. Over the team's last 12 games, he's taken his production to another level. 

The 2020 Buffalo Sabres draft pick is currently riding a 12-game point streak, tallying 16 points on three goals and 13 assists in that stretch. His 12-game streak is the longest in program history since Patrick Galivan's 13-game stretch back in 2008-09. 

The longest streak in program history is held by Dan Dorion, who scored a point in 44 straight games. 

DEFENSE PROVIDING OFFENSE
Over the Broncos' last five games, the defense has stepped up in a big way, providing some much needed offense in key situations. 

Carter Berger has led the way, notching seven points on two goals and five assists over the last five contests. He had five assists across two wins over Lindenwood and Miami, while adding two goals against Minnesota Duluth last weekend. Berger tallied the game-tying goal in Saturday's 5-2 victory over the Bulldogs. 

Zak Galambos has also been getting it done on the offensive end, posting five points on three goals and two assists in his last five games. He collected two goals, including the game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory over Miami on Jan. 12. He also lit the lamp to tie the game at 1-1 against UMD on Jan. 19. 

COLANGELO KEEPS SCORING
It's been quite the season for senior Sam Colangelo, who came to Western Michigan as a transfer from Northeastern this offseason.  

On the season, Colangelo has posted 28 points on 15 goals and 13 assists. That includes the game-winning goal in a 5-2 victory over Minnesota Duluth this past Saturday. 

Colangelo has been red hot as of late, as he's riding a nine-game point streak. In that stretch, hes recorded 16 points on eight goals and eight assists. 

Additionally, the junior winger leads the nation in hat tricks with two. He tallied a trio of goals against Bowling Green back in October and followed that up with three more goals against Denver in December. 

THIRD PERIOD THEATRICS
No matter the score or the situation, the Broncos have been a tough team to finish off, thanks to its explosive offense in the third period. 

In 22 games this season, Western Michigan has scored 88 goals. Nearly half of those have come in the third period, with the Brown and Gold outscoring opponents 39-14 in the final 20 minutes. 

In 15 of the team's 22 games, WMU has scored two or more goals in the third period. The Broncos have a 13-2-0 record when scoring multiple goals in the third period.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Colorado College comes into the weekend having won three straight games, including a sweep of Miami this past weekend. The Tigers are fifth in the conference standings and just one point behind the Broncos entering Friday's game. Western Michigan swept the Tigers back in November with scores of 3-1 and 4-0. 

CC has had a balanced offensive attack, as eight players have posted double-digit points in 22 games. Noah Laba leads the way with 19 on 11 goals and eight assists. 

In addition to Laba, Logan Will has produced 17 points on six goals and 11 assists, while Gleb Veremyev has totaled 16 points on eight goals and eight assists. 

In net, Kaidan Mbereko has started all 22 games for the Tigers. In those games, he has posted a 13-8-1 record, 2.67 goals against average and .910 save percentage. 

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. 12 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.