KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Pat Ferschweiler gives a little smile when thinking about the competition this season in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

''I think there are three knowns and a lot of unknowns,'' Western Michigan University's head coach said. ''Of the unknowns, we have retooled our lineup as what happens in college sports now and we have a lot of questions…really, I think all of us do.

''I feel we have reloaded very well, though.''

Others feel that way too. While WMU was picked to finish sixth in the NCHC preseason poll, the Broncos are ranked 17th in the nation on the USA Hockey/The Rink Live national poll.

The 16 new players along with 13 returners will open the season Friday night and Saturday night with nonconference games against Ferris State. The Friday night game is at Lawson Ice Arena (7 p.m. start) and Saturday's game is in Big Rapids.

Ferschweiler feels Denver (ranked No. 1 nationally), North Dakota (6) and Colorado College (12) all return a ton of firepower.

''The expectations for those teams are high,'' he said. ''Fourth through ninth, well, you can make an argument for a lot of teams.''

One of those is the Broncos, even though they lost a lot of firepower from last season's team which went 21-16-1 overall and 11-13 in the NCHC. Western Michigan did make the NCAA tournament, losing a heartbreaker to Michigan State, 5-4, in overtime of a regional semifinal game.

''I still think about that game,'' WMU captain Tim Washe said. ''That motivated a lot of us this summer.

''It got us going in the gym, especially when we felt a bit tired. We had a chance in that game, but everything happens for a reason.''

It starts this season with finding new scoring…like, a lot of new scoring. WMU scored 136 goals last season, but only players who scored 32 goals return.

''That's the second lowest in the country returning,'' Ferschweiler said. ''Our scoring is going to come from a little bit of our style of play and players stepping up.''

The leading returning scorer is sophomore forward Alex Bump. After a slow start last season, he scored nine of his 14 goals in the final two months of the season and finished with 36 points. He had a goal and an assist in the MSU game.

''Alex not only is supremely gifted and smart, he is hyper competitive and that is a recipe for success in any sport.,'' Ferschweiler said.

In last Saturday's 4-1 exhibition victory over the U.S. National Team Development Program, Bump was on the top line with senior Matteo Costantini in the center spot. Costantini had 11 goals and 31 points last season. On the wing was Denver transfer Tristan Lemyre, a junior. Playing for Dubuque in the United States Hockey League two years ago, he scored 29 goals in one season.

''Tristan has been a scorer all his life,'' Ferschweiler said.

To show the confidence the WMU hockey staff has in the newcomers, three of them played on the second line, freshman Zach Nehring, sophomore transfer Grant Slukynsky from Northern Michigan and junior transfer Liam Valente from Providence.

After playing with two seniors last season, Washe is getting to know the newcomers, two of which – freshmen Iiro Hakkarainen and Ty Henricks – play on a line with the captain.

''It took a couple of weeks to figure out each other, but they are great, have a lot of energy, and are excited to learn'' Washe said. ''But all the guys have fit in and it's been really easy.''

Ferschweiler is looking for Washe, who had two goals last season, to possibly pick up the goal-scoring, too.

''Tim looks determined,'' the coach said. ''He's hyper intense and competitive.

''Almost every coach in the world relates hard work to defense. We love to relate it to offense whenever possible, so we want Tim to re-channel his offensive side. He has to call his own number sometime.''

On defense, junior Samuel Sjolund, freshmen Joona Väisänen and Zack Sharp, sophomore Cole Crusberg-Roseen and graduate students Brian Kramer and Robby Drazner all could add offense to their defense.

Ferschweiler has two good goaltenders in starter Cameron Rowe (2.61 goals-against average in 2023-24) and freshman Hampton Slukynsky, who will vie for a spot on the national team this year.

''Cam worked hard to get into the best shape in his life,'' the head coach said. ''He's been excellent and competitive all camp, but Hampton will get his time…he's earned it.''

A lot of newcomers will get their time this season for Western Michigan.