KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan will hit the road for a series at Minnesota Duluth beginning on Friday, Nov. 22. The series opener between the Broncos and Bulldogs will begin at 8 PM ET at AMSOIL Arena. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos completed an unbeaten weekend against No. 8 Colorado College, earning a 1-0-1 record against the Tigers. WMU won 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 15 before closing out the series on Nov. 16 with a 1-1 tie. 

HAMMER TIME
Freshman goaltender Hampton Slukynsky has been exceptional throughout the early portion of the 2024-25 season, entering the weekend with a 2-1-1 record, 1.72 goals against average and .944 save percentage. 

For his work against Colorado College last weekend, the NCHC named him the Rookie of the Week. He made 27 saves and allowed just one goal in Saturday's tie. 

The Los Angeles Kings draft pick leads the league in save percentage and is second in saves per game. Nationally, he is fifth in save percentage and 13th in goals against average. 

The Warroad, Minn. native has made 118 saves in four starts. The Rookie of the Week honor was the first NCHC weekly award of his career. 

DOMINATING THE DOT
Western Michigan has been outstanding at winning faceoffs this season, sitting at a 58.3 percent win rate. That mark leads the nation, and WMU is the only team over 57 percent. 

Tim Washe and Matteo Costantini are leading the way for the Broncos, combining for 179 of the team's 266 faceoff wins. Washe enters the weekend at 67.2 percent, while Costantini sits at 62.3 percent. 

Washe has led the NCHC in win percentage each of the last two seasons, while Costantini had a career high 233 wins last season. 

TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM
Early in the 2024-25 season Western Michigan has shown a willingness to get in front of pucks and block shots. 

The Broncos are averaging over 10 blocked shots per game, with eight players entering the weekend at five or more. Cole Crusberg-Roseen leads the way with 10 this season, while Iiro Hakkarainen and Robby Dranzer each have eight. 

Crusberg-Roseen has recorded a block in all but one game this season. Samuel Sjolund paced the team last week against Colorado College, blocking five shots. WMU has reached double-digit blocks in five games this season. 

WASHE'S WINNERS
Captain Tim Washe has spearheaded a strong start to the season for the Broncos, heading into the weekend with eight points on two goals and six assists. 

The Clarkston, Mich. native has made key plays throughout his career, but he's been on top of his game over the last two NCHC weekends. Washe tallied the game-winning goal in WMU's series finale at Omaha on Nov. 9 before recording the overtime winner in the series opener against Colorado College on Nov. 15. 

Washe has 14 career goals with five of those being game-winning tallies. His clutch play has led to a team-high +9 rating so far this season. 

SCINTILLATING SOPHOMORES
The Broncos have a share of second-year players that have taken big leaps in the 2024-25 campaign. Owen Michaels, Alex Bump, Grant Slukynsky and Cole Crusberg-Roseen have been crucial pieces to WMU's 6-1-1 start this season. 

Bump is the team's leading point getter with eight on three goals and five assists. Michaels has a team leading four goals, while Slukynksy is up to six points in eight games. 

Crusberg-Roseen has been a steady presence at the blue line, carrying three points into the weekend series. Outside of his passing game, the New Hampshire native leads the team in blocked shots with 10. He's blocked a shot in all but one game this season. 

MINNESOTA CONNECTIONS
Western Michigan has created a strong pipeline in Minnesota, getting some of its best players from the Land of 1000 Lakes. On the 2024-25 roster, the Broncos have five players from Minnesota. including big names such as Alex Bump and Hampton Slukynsky. 

Bump leads the team in points with eight this season. He has three goals and five assists. Slukynsky is 2-1-1 with a 1.72 GAA and .944 save percentage in net. 

Not only does WMU have strong players from Minnesota, but head coach Pat Ferschweiler is from Rochester, Minn. He played for the Broncos from 1990-93, totaling 95 points on 30 goals and 65 assists. He took over as the team's head coach to begin the 2021-22 season. 

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
After losing four of its first five games, Minnesota Duluth has won four of its last six to get to 5-6 overall on the season. The Bulldogs enter the weekend series fresh off of a sweep of Miami. 

WMU is 18-28-3 all time against the Bulldogs, including a 9-13-2 record in Duluth. However, the Broncos have won four of the last five meetings. 

Dominic James, Jayson Shaugabay and Aaron Pionk have led the way points wise, with each of them being at 10 or more this season. James has seven goals and eight assists in 10 games. 

In net, three goaltenders have seen action. Adam Gajan has started 10 games, boasting a 5-5-0 record, 3.25 goals against average and .891 save percentage. 

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Since the start of the 2021-22 season Western Michigan has been consistently among the top teams in the nation, and the polls reflect that. WMU has made three straight NCAA Tournaments and currently sits at No. 9 in the nation. 

The Broncos have been ranked in the top-20 since Oct. 11, 2021.