KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan opens the new year with a two-game series against Alaska Anchorage. Friday's series opener will begin at 7 PM at Lawson Arena. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos finished second at the Great Lakes Invitational, beating Michigan Tech in the opening round before falling to No. 1 Michigan State in the championship game. Alex Bump and Samuel Sjolund were named to the All-Tournament Team. 

PENALTY KILL
WMU has been sensational on the penalty kill this season, boasting an NCHC best 90.9 percent mark. That percentage is also third best in the nation. 

The Brown and Gold have not allowed a power play goal in more than a month, with the last one coming back in mid-November at Minnesota Duluth as part of a major penalty. 

In total, Western Michigan has killed off its last 24 penalties. The Broncos have allowed just four power play goals this season. 

CAPTAIN CLUTCH
Western Michigan captain Tim Washe has had a breakout 2024-25 campaign, leading the team in a variety of categories. Entering the weekend, the Clarkston, Mich. native has 15 points on eight goals and seven assists. 

He has scored at least one point in every series this season and is the nation's leader in game-winning goals. 

Washe has five-game winning tallies this season, with his latest coming against Michigan Tech last week at the GLI. His eight goals are a career high and he's just four points shy of a new career mark. 

FRESHMAN PHENOMS
The Broncos welcomed 10 freshmen for the 2024-25 season, and those newcomers have done nothing but produce for the team through the first 16 games. 

Goaltender Hampton Slukynsky is currently playing with Team USA at the World Junior Championship and is 3-3-1 with a .941 save percentage this season. 

In terms of forwards, Zach Nehring leads the way with nine points on four goals and five assists. Right behind him is Iiro Hakkarainen with two goals and six assists. Ty Henricks has four points on one goal and three assists. 

Defense wise, Joona Väisänen and Zack Sharp have been outstanding, combining for nine points on two goals and seven assists. The duo has also blocked 24 shots. 

DOMINATING THE DOT
Western Michigan has had a successful first half of the season, thanks in large part to its ability to control the puck. A lot of that has to do with winning faceoffs, which the Broncos are doing at a 55.0 percent clip. 

That marks leads the NCHC and is fourth in the nation. Tim Washe is the top faceoff man for the Broncos, leading the NCHC with a 60.5 percent win rate. 

Washe has won 170 total faceoffs so far this season. Along with the captain, Matteo Costantini and Owen Michaels are both over 55 percent, combining for more than 200 faceoff wins. 

BLOCK PARTY
WMU has been one of the best defensive teams in the nation, thanks in large part to its willingness to block shots. The Broncos lead the NCHC with nearly 13 blocked shots per game. 

The team has reached double digit blocks in 10 straight games, combining for 31 at the Great Lakes Invitational this past weekend. WMU's season best was a 22-block performance at Michigan in late November. 

Individually, Cole Crusberg-Roseen leads the team with 26 blocks. He's blocked a shot in all but one game this season. Zach Nehring leads all forwards with 14 blocked shots. He had four blocks at the GLI last weekend. 

SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES
Alaska Anchorage has struggled this season, carrying a 4-14-3 overall record into the weekend series. The Seawolves haven't won a game since Dec. 7 at Merrimack. 

The all-time series is tied 3-3, with the most recent matchup coming back in 2022. The two programs split a series in Alaska that season. WMU is 1-1 at home against the Seawolves with both of those matchups coming in 1988. 

UAA has four scorers in double figures, with Dimitry Kebreau leading the way at 16 points on five goals and 11 assists. Ryan Johnson is the leading goal scorer with nine tallies in 20 games. 

Greg Orosz has been the first option in net, as he's started 15 games. He's been able to produce a 4-9-2 record, 3.24 goals against average and .877 save percentage. Tyler Krivtsov has started six games, holding an 0-5-1 record, 2.94 GAA and .893 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. 4 in the nation. 

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