KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Last season was something else for Western Michigan University's hockey team.

Now it's time for a new season.

''We talked to every player at the end of the season, knowing in Game 1, against Ferris on Thursday night, Ferris players aren't going to care we are defending national champions,'' WMU head coach Pat Ferschweiler said. ''We need to come back better versions of ourselves, and honestly, to a man, every man is stronger, faster and a better player than when they left last year.

''The team went home hungry.''

That hunger will start to be fed Thursday and Friday nights when WMU (34-7-1 overall, 19-4-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference) opens the season against Ferris State at Lawson Ice Arena.

The Broncos are coming off a dominating 7-0 scrimmage win over the U.S. National Development team last Saturday.

''It was a lot of fun to be back on the ice,'' junior captain Owen Michaels said. ''To knock off a little rust, I like the way we played.''

The way the Broncos played last year and the fact they have a lot of returning players from that national title has earned WMU the No. 1 ranking in the nation.

''Being ranked No. 1 is great because it's a respect thing more than anything else,'' Ferschweiler, who is starting his fifth season at WMU, said. ''We return more scoring than I've ever had here, and we take that as a compliment of what people think of our program.

''However, there are a lot of teams in the top 10 you could mix up on any given day and be right.''

The scoring is very nice, but having an experienced goaltender who played in the national championship game is pretty good, too. WMU has one in sophomore Hampton Slukynsky. He had a 1.90 goals-against average and a sterling 19-5-1 record.

''Hampton came back strong, he added muscle and is dedicated to his craft,'' the head coach said. ''He knows if he is going to play in the National Hockey League, it's a physical game.

''Even in college, it's physical and goalies have to win small puck battles around the net. He had a great summer and looks spectacular.''

Having four experienced defensemen in front of him is a pretty good thing, too. Senior Samuel Sjolund and sophomore Joona Väisänen return as the No. 1 pair. Junior Cole Crusberg-Roseen is back at No. 2 and has a new partner in sophomore Zack Sharp, who was on the No. 3 defensive duo last season.

Western Michigan was fourth nationally last season with a stingy 2.05 goals-against average.

Up front, the returning scorers list is impressive. While No. 1 Alex Bump and No. 2 Tim Washe are gone to the pro hockey ranks, Numbers 3-9 return. They are Michaels (36 points last season), Grant Slukynsky (36), Liam Valente (33), Zach Nehring (30), Iiro Hakkarainen (29), Sjolund (29) and Vaisanen (26). All told, almost 60 percent of WMU's points it scored last season return this season.

In WMU's 6-2 victory over Boston University in the national championship game, Michaels had two goals and Crusberg-Roseen, Hakkarainen and Ty Henricks each had single goals.

Against the U.S. National team, the top line was Michaels and transfers William Whitelaw (Michigan) and Zaccharya Wisdom (Colorado College).

''Owen has been a center his whole life, but we moved him to a wing last year to get him up in the lineup,'' Ferschweiler said. ''We were deep and good at centers, but he's able to play both positions well.''

Returning on the second line are all three skaters – Valente, Slukynsky and Nehring. The veteran presence doesn't stop there with Henricks, Hakkarainen and freshman Bobby Cowan on the third line.

''This team is a prideful group and we recruit players with inner drive that want to be great,'' the head coach said. ''They all have goals…No. 1 is to be a great Bronco and No. 2 is to prepare themselves for pro hockey.''

Added Michaels: ''We have a lot of depth in our lineup and there is so much trust in each and every guy. Anyone can play the hero on any given night.''

Like many of the Broncos, Michaels worked hard during the offseason.

''I worked with a dietician, and I'm taking the next step to put on some weight, round out my body and get bigger, stronger, faster,'' he said. ''It was a lot of fun to have the guys in town this summer, to hang out and grow closer.''

And how many times have you watched the national championship game?

''I've seen that game a lot,'' Michaels said with a smile. ''We're all super close with the guys who moved on, staying in touch like brothers.''

The new season starts Thursday night.