KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan returns home for a series with No. 2 Denver. The Broncos and Pioneers open the series on Friday, Dec. 6 at Lawson Arena. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos split a series with No. 6 Michigan, earning a 4-1 win at home on Nov. 29 before falling 2-1 the next night. Alex Bump led the way in the series, collecting a goal and an assist en route to NCHC Forward of the Week honors. 

OFF AND RUNNING
The Broncos are undefeated in conference play, sitting with a 5-0-1 record. Winning percentage wise, that is the best NCHC start in program history. WMU's 15 points are the most through six games since the 2017-18 season. 

The Broncos have sweeps over Omaha and Minnesota Duluth, with the other points coming from a win and tie over No. 8 Colorado College. WMU has a five-point lead in the NCHC standings heading into Friday's action. 

DON'T I KNOW YOU?
After spending two seasons with Denver, junior forward Tristan Lemyre has become a focal point for the Broncos this season. This will be Lemyre's first time playing DU since transferring to WMU. 

In 12 games, Lemyre has produced four points on three goals and one assist. All three of his goals this season have come against NCHC opponents. He is one goal and three points away from career-high marks.

DEPENDING ON THE DEFENSE
While goaltending has been key to WMU's strong start, the defensemen have played a pivotal role in keeping team's off the board while also putting goals on the board. 

WMU is No. 5 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents to score just 1.67 goals per game. Offensively, the Broncos are No. 10 in the nation, scoring just under 3.50 goals per game. 

Samuel Sjolund, Joona Väisänen, Brian Kramer, Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Zack Sharp and Robby Drazner have played in all 12 games on the blue line for the Brown and Gold. That group has combined for 25 points on three goals and 22 assists. Väisänen and Sjolund lead the way with six points each. 

The six standout defensemen have combined to block 69 shots. All six of them have seven or more blocked shots this season. 

KINGS OF THE KILL
WMU's penalty killing unit has been sensational through the first 12 games of the season, sitting at 88.2 percent. That mark is good for 13th in the nation and fifth in the NCHC. 

The Broncos have allowed just four power play goals all season. Western Michigan's penalty kill hasn't allowed a goal over the last three games and has allowed just one in its last six contests. 

Entering Friday's game, Western Michigan has killed off its last 13 penalties. 

DYNAMIC DUO
Splitting time in net, Cameron Rowe and Hampton Slukynsky have spearheaded a 9-2-1 start for WMU. 

Rowe is 6-0-0 overall and went 4-0-0 in November. The Wilmette, Ill. native won the NCHC Goaltender of the Week award twice last month. 

He is third in the nation in GAA (1.49) and fifth in save percentage (.943). Rowe is also the NCAA's active career wins leader with 60. 

Slukynsky has been just as strong, earning the NCHC's Rookie of the Month award twice in November. He's a draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings. 

The Warroad, Minn. native leads the nation in save percentage (.947) and is ninth in GAA (1.66). Slukynsky has made 25 or more saves in every start this season. 

BLOCK PARTY
The 2024-25 Broncos have taken pride in blocking shots, averaging just under 12 per game. In two games against No. 6 Michigan last weekend, the Brown and Gold blocked 33 shots. 

Western Michigan has now posted 10 or more blocks in six straight games, which includes a season-high 22 against UM last Saturday. 

Cole Crusberg-Roseen and Brian Kramer have led the way, combining for 33 blocks this season. Every player that has seen the ice in at least one game this season has blocked a shot. 

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Denver enters the weekend at No. 2 in the country and has lost just two games this season. The Pioneers were swept by Arizona State in their last series. 

WMU trails the all-time series, 14-25-2, and is 3-7-0 over the last 10 meetings. However, the Broncos are 11-7-0 against the Pios in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan took four of six points against DU at Lawson Arena last season. 

Denver has been an offensive juggernaut to start the season, averaging an NCAA leading 4.36 goals per game. The Pioneers' defense has been strong as well, limiting teams to just 1.79 goals per game. 

Offensively, Jack Devine and Aidan Thompson have been the leaders. Devine has one goal and 22 assists, while Thompson enters the weekend with 10 goals and 12 assists. Zeev Buium and Eric Pohlkamp have combined for seven goals and 22 assists from the blue line. 

In net, Matt Davis has started all but one game. He has an 11-2-0 record, 1.78 goals against average and .926 save percentage in 13 starts. Freddie Halyk has appeared in one game, allowing one goal. 

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. 7 in the nation. 

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