KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan continues NCHC play at Omaha this weekend. The two teams will begin the series on Friday at 8 PM ET at Baxter Arena.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos dominated Miami, earning a series sweep over the RedHawks last weekend. The Brown and Gold secured a 6-2 win in the series finale, seeing five different players light the lamp.
Ty Henricks found the back of the net twice, while
Iiro Hakkarainen,
William Whitelaw,
Garrett Szydlowski and
Liam Valente each scored once.
Hampton Slukynsky tallied 14 saves in net to earn the victory.
POWER PLAY PRODUCER
Senior forward
Liam Valente has taken his game to another level in 2025-26 opening the year with nine points on eight goals and one assist.
The Märsta, Sweden native has a goal in each of his last three games and five of his last seven outings. He ranks fourth in the NCHC and ninth in the nation in goals this season.
However, his biggest impact has come on the man advantage. Valente has five power play goals this season, which ranks second in the NCHC and sixth in the nation. He is one PPG off the national leaders.
The veteran winger is picking up right where he left off last season, ending the 2024-25 campaign with eight tallies on the man advantage. He has 15 career power play goals, with 13 coming in two years at Western Michigan.
FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Under head coach
Pat Ferschweiler, Western Michigan has continued to raise the level of talent being brought into the program. That is evident by the play of the team's freshmen and sophomores this season.
WMU's young talent overwhelmed Miami this past weekend, as the freshmen and sophomores combined for 17 of the team's 32 points (5-12-17).
Bobby Cowan,
Iiro Hakkarainen,
Ty Henricks,
Sam Huck,
Ryan Kusler,
Zach Nehring and
Zack Sharp all had multiple points in the series.
Additionally, rookie defenseman
Colby Woogk picked up his first career point against the RedHawks, notching an assist in Friday's win.
Nearly every underclassman has at least one point this season, with Henricks leading the youngsters at 10 points (5-5-10). Freshman
Bobby Cowan isn't too far behind at seven points on two goals and five assists.
KILLIN' IT
After giving up seven power-play goals in its first eight games, WMU's penalty killing unit has started to find its groove over the last few weeks of play.
The Brown and Gold have allowed just one power-play goal over the last four games, going 17-of-18 on the PK in that stretch. That has allowed the Broncos to rise to No. 14 in the country with an 84.3 percent kill rate.
A big reason for Western Michigan's success has been its ability to limit shots on net. Opponents have gotten less than two shots per power play over the last 18 opportunities.
PROVIDING A SPARK
Sam Huck,
Ryan Kusler and
Garrett Szydlowski have played just four games on the same line, but they have proven to be one of WMU's most effective combos in that time.
Despite being listed as WMU's fourth line, the speedy forwards have been able to produce nine points over the last four games.
Huck's talent was on full display this past weekend, as he notched his first career multi-point game. He finished the sweep of Miami with a goal and two assists.
Kusler has tallied at least one point in three straight games, while winning 65.8 percent of his faceoffs in that stretch.
Szydlowski has collected a goal and two assists since teaming up with Huck and Kusler. The Brighton, Mich. native is currently riding a three-game point streak.
DOMINATING THE DOT
Western Michigan has long been known as one of the best faceoff teams in the nation, and the 2025-26 squad is no different. Through 12 games this season, WMU has produced a 53.7 percent win rate in the dot, which is good for third in the NCHC and 11th in the nation.
Ryan Kusler and
Owen Michaels have led the charge, as each sit above 60 percent this season. Kusler is winning draws at a 65.8 percent clip, while Michaels handles 60.2 percent of his faceoffs. Michaels is third in the NCHC and sixth in the nation with 153 faceoffs won.
Grant Slukynsky has also been strong in the dot, winning 54.1 percent of the time. The Brown and Gold have had the NCHC's leader in faceoff win percentage each of the last three seasons.
SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Omaha is off to a 5-5-0 start, including a 3-3-0 mark in the NCHC. The Mavericks have lost three of their last five games scoring more than two goals just once in that stretch.
WMU trails the all-time series, 32-35-6, including a 12-20-2 record in Omaha. However, the Broncos won all four meetings last season and are 7-3-0 over the last 10 matchups.
Maxime Pellerin and Luke Woodworth lead the way offensively, as each enter the weekend with eight points. Pellerin has five goals and three assists, while Woodworth has produced three goals and five assists. Pellerin missed Omaha's last game against Minnesota Duluth.
The Mavs have started to split goaltenders, giving Simon Latkoczy and Dawson Cowan time in net. Cowan is 2-0-0 with a 2.00 goals against average and .944 save percentage, while Latkoczy is 3-5-0 with a 3.65 GAA and .896 save percentage. Latkoczy is the reigning NCHC Goaltender of the Year.
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. The Broncos have now made four straight NCAA Tournaments and sit at No. 7 in the national polls. The Broncos have been ranked in the top 20 since Oct. 11, 2021.
