KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan will return home for a series against No. 9 Denver this weekend. The two teams will open the series on Friday at 7 PM at Lawson Arena. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos dropped a road game at St. Cloud State, falling to the Huskies by a final score of 5-1. 

Samuel Sjolund had the lone goal for the Brown and Gold, while Hampton Slukynsky matched a season-high with 28 saves in net. 

DEFENSE THAT SCORES
WMU has been known for strong offense over Pat Ferschweiler's tenure in Kalamazoo, and the 2025-26 season is no different. 

A big key to this year's top-20 attack has been the defense, as multiple blue liners have produced on the offensive end. Samuel Sjolund leads the way with six points on three goals and three assists. He scored twice last weekend at St. Cloud State.

Despite missing both games last weekend, Zack Sharp has been able to produce for the Brown and Gold. He enters this weekend with five points on two goals and three assists in six games. 

Zach Bookman, Cole Crusberg-Roseen and Theo Wallberg also tallied points last weekend at St. Cloud State. Crusberg-Roseen and Wallberg lead the team with a combined 21 blocked shots. 

SUPER SLUKYNSKY
Junior forward Grant Slukynsky has taken his game to another level in 2025-26, entering the weekend series with 11 points on two goals and a team-leading nine assists. 

The Warroad, Minn. native has produced two or more points in every series this season, including a three-point effort last weekend at St. Cloud State.

He is currently riding a three-game point streak, with six points on two goals and four assists. He has at least one point in five of the team's first eight games of the season. 

FOLLOWING IN HIS FOOTSTEPS
Captain Owen Michaels has been one of the best players in the nation at winning faceoffs this season. He has won 103 draws and holds a 61.3 percent win rate entering Friday's game. 

WMU has a long history of success with centers who win faceoffs, with the most recent being Tim Washe. Washe led the NCHC in faceoff percentage in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. Washe signed a professional contract with the Anaheim Ducks after the 2024-25 season. 

Michaels ranks third in the NCHC and sixth in the nation in total faceoffs won. Percentage wise, he is second in the NCHC. He won 65 percent of his draws last weekend at St. Cloud State, going 26-of-40 in the dot. 

LEANING ON LIAM
Returning to Western Michigan after an impressive junior season, Liam Valente has been outstanding for the Brown and Gold early in the 2025-26 season. 

The Swedish forward has been red hot over his last five games, posting four goals in that stretch. He lit the lamp twice against St. Cloud State last weekend, firing six shots on net in total. 

Valente has been a steady offensive presence in his time with the program, delivering 19 goals and 19 assists in 50 games. Adding his two years at Providence, Valente has 58 points on 26 goals and 32 assists in his career.  

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Despite returning a wealth of talent from last year's team, the Broncos have relied on some new faces in 2025-26. 

Bobby Cowan has stood out the most, entering Friday's game with five points on two goals and three assists. He has at least one point in each series so far this season. 

Jamison Sluys, Tyler MacKenzie and Sam Huck have also sparked the offense, combining for five points on two goals and three assists. 

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Denver is off to an interesting start to the season, coming to Kalamazoo with a 4-3-1 record. The Pios have beaten Boston College, but suffered losses to Alaska Anchorage and Lindenwood. 

WMU trails the all-time series, 17-26-2. However, Western Michigan is 12-8-0 on home ice against the Pioneers. The Brown and Gold won three of four matchups last season, including a double overtime victory in the NCAA Frozen Four.

Eric Pohlkamp leads the way for DU, pacing the team with nine points on five goals and four assists so far this season. Clarke Caswell has aided the attack, entering Friday's game with eight points on two goals and six assists. 

In net, the Pios have split time between Quentin Miller and Paxton Geisel. Miller has seen action in six games, boasting a 3-2-1 record, 1.48 goals against average and .930 save percentage. Geisel has started two games, holding a 1-1-0 record, 1.53 GAA and .943 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. The Broncos have now made four straight NCAA Tournaments and sit at No. 4 in the national polls. The Broncos have been ranked in the top 20 since Oct. 11, 2021.