KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The fifth-ranked Western Michigan hockey team continues its stretch of four straight games against Big Ten opposition with a split weekend. The Brown and Gold visit top-ranked Michigan on Friday night in Ann Arbor and then return to Lawson Arena on Saturday evening for an exhibition tilt against #6 Wisconsin.

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos finished off their second consecutive home-and-home sweep on Saturday, going down to South Bend and blanking Notre Dame 4-0.

Western Michigan was on the front foot early with three first-period goals, with Nicholas Sykora, Ty Henricks and Bobby Cowan all lighting the lamp in the opening frame. Adam Benák scored for the second straight night in the second period to cap the scoring, and Quentin Miller made 17 saves to post his second shutout of the season. 

DOMINATING AT BOTH ENDS
In its series sweeps of Ferris State and Notre Dame to start the 2026-27 campaign, Western Michigan has put on an impressive display at both ends of the ice, outscoring its opponents 21-2 during its 4-0-0 start. Led by sophomore goaltender Quentin Miller, the Brown and Gold are atop the nation in scoring defense, having allowed 0.50 goals per game and posted a pair of shutouts. 

On the offensive side, WMU is fourth nationally at 5.25 goals per game. The Broncos have spread the wealth offensively, with 11 different players having scored at least one of the team's 21 goals. Bobby Cowan leads the Brown and Gold with three goals in four games, while eight different players have netted two goals apiece.

IT'S MILLER TIME
With National Championship winning goalie Hampton Slukynsky gone to the professional ranks, Western Michigan has turned to another National Championship winning netminder in 2026-27. The Broncos grabbed Quentin Miller out of the transfer portal after the Montreal native played his freshman season at Denver.

Miller has been stellar in his first four games for the Brown and Gold, yielding just a pair of goals while winning all four of his starts, including a pair of shutouts. The sophomore ranks second in the nation in both goals against average (0.50) and save percentage (.976). 

FRESHMAN PHENOM
Freshman forward Adam Benák was named the NCHC Rookie of the Week for the second straight week on Tuesday. He scored the first two goals of his collegiate career against Notre Dame, and added an assist on Saturday for a three-point weekend.

Through his first four games at the collegiate level, Benák is tied for the WMU team lead with seven points on two goals and five assists. His seven points are also tied with Lindenwood's Caden Brown for the most in the nation among freshmen. 

WELCOME BACK JOONA
After missing the majority of last season due to injury, junior defenseman Joona Väisänen has made a big impact upon his return to the Western Michigan lineup. He tied his career high in assists with three in Friday's series-opening win over Notre Dame and led all NCHC defensemen in points for the week. Through four games, Väisänen is tied for the team lead with seven points (2-5-7), and is one point shy of a tie for the national lead in points among defensemen.

KILLIN' IT
The Broncos have had great penalty killing units over the last three seasons, finishing top-10 nationally in all three. Western Michigan was eighth in the NCAA in 2025-26 (86.2%), fourth in 2024-25 (86.7%) and ninth in 2023-24 (84.1%). 

WMU has picked up right where it left off so far this year, going 3-for-3 in the series against Notre Dame to up its penalty kill percentage to 92.9% (13-for-14).

SCOUTING THE WOLVERINES
Michigan is off to a 6-0-0 start to the season and climbed up to No. 1 in both polls this week after sweeping a series at former No. 1 Denver last weekend. The Wolverines are the top-scoring team in the country thus far at 6.00 goals per game, while ranking just outside of the top-10 in defense at 2.00 goals allowed per contest.

U-M's one-two punch of Jayden Perron and Michael Hage are the top two point-getters in the nation thus far, totaling 15 and 14, respectively. Perron is the national leader in goals with nine, and Hage is the nation's leader in assists with 11.

FINAL SEASON AT LAWSON
The 2026-27 campaign marks the Final Season at historic Lawson Arena for Western Michigan hockey. Named after the founding father of the program, Harry W. Lawson, the arena has been home to Bronco hockey since the 1974-75 season. All throughout the 2026-27 season, WMU hockey will be celebrating its five-plus decades at Lawson Arena with special events, promotions and 'Fan Friday' giveaways. Secure your tickets and help us celebrate the Final Season at Lawson Arena by going to wmubroncos.com/tickets.