RV/NR Western Michigan (11-10-4, 4-7-4-3)
vs. #8/8 Miami (15-9-1, 8-6-1-1)
All-Time series — MIA leads 59-56-11
Feb. 7 // Soldier Field
Sat. 4:00 p.m. ET // Chicago, Ill.
RADIO BROADCAST | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS
• Saturday's game can be heard line on 590 AM in Kalamazoo and the surrounding area.
TV/STREAMING BROADCAST | COMCAST SPORTS NET/FOX SPORTS NET
• Saturday's game can be seen live Comcast Sports Network and Fox Sports Net affiliats like Fox Sports North, Fox Sports Detroit and others. Check local listings.
LAST WEEK
The Broncos welcomed the RedHawks to Lawson Ice Arena for just one game on Saturday. The Broncos went down 1-0 midway through the second period but rebounded on goals by Frederik Tiffels and Mike McKee in a span of just 29 seconds to take a 2-1 lead into the third period.
Miami scored two quick goals at 14:11 and 14:31 in the third period to retake the lead 3-2 before Colton Hargrove tied the game up with 13 seconds left on an extra-attacker goal. The RedHawks went on to earn the extra point in the shootout with a 2-1 win.
AT A GLANCE: MIAMI UNIVERSITY
• THE SERIES: The RedHawks hold a 59-56-11 lead in the all-time series, including a sweep in Oxford back in November and the tie last Saturday.
• THE FIRST TIME AROUND: The Broncos went down to Miami on Nov. 21 and 22 and did not come away with a win. The series opened with a 1-0 win by the RedHawks after Blake Coleman netted a goal just 3:20 into the game. The goal stood as MU's Jay Williams made 23 saves in the shutout while Lukas Hafner made 27.
Western Michigan struck first on a goal by Will Kessel 3:41 in the second period but Miami scored four goals in seven minutes to take a commanding 4-1 lead heading into the third period. Frederik Tiffels cut the lead to 4-2 late in the third period before an empty-netter was added.
• SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS, AGAIN: Miami (15-9-1, 8-6-1-1 NCHC) have maintained a spot in and around the nation's Top 10 all season.
MU boasts the nation's 18th-best offense at 2.96 goals per game. That number rises to 3.0 in NCHC play this season with 45 goals in 15 conference games. Miami's veterans lead the offense with all top five scorers either juniors or seniors. Senior captain Austin Czarnik leads the squad with 26 points on two goals and 24 assists that rank tied for second-most in the nation. Riley Barber, Blake Coleman, Sean Kuraly and Cody Murphy each have at least 10 goals on the season. Kuraly leads the team with 12 goals after tallying one against the Broncos last Saturday. Seven of his goals have been game-winners this season. Coleman and Murphy each have 10 on the season, with all four having at least seven tallies in conference play. Freshman Louie Belpedio and senior Ben Paulides are the top goal-scorers on the RedHawk blue line with three each, while Matthew Caito leads all defensemen with 14 points.
Defensively Miami ranks eighth in the nation at 2.12 goals per game and second in conference play at 2.33. Junior netminder Jay Williams has put up stellar numbers between the pipes with a 13-4-0 record, a .925 save percentage and a 1.66 goals against average this season. His goals against average ranks fourth in the nation, allowing just 28 goals in 1010:58 of ice time.
Miami's power play ranks 29th in the nation, converting 19-of-108 chances on the season for 17.6-percent. Kuraly leads all RedHawks with four power play tallies, while Barber, Coleman and Kevin Morris each have three.
MU's penalty kill ranks 16th in the nation, killing off 94-of-110 power plays for 85.5-percent. The team has also scored four short-handed goals this season.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
• The Hockey City Classic is just the third outdoor game in WMU history. The previous two came as part of the 2013 Great Lakes Invitational at Comerica Park in Detroit. Western Michigan won the semifinal game 3-2 against Michigan after a highlight-reel goal by Josh Pitt. Justin Kovacs was the hero the following night in the championship game against Michigan Tech, scoring the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win just minutes into overtime.
Kovacs, Pitt, Will Kessel and alum Shane Berschbach are the only Broncos to tally in outdoor games in program history. Junior goalie Lukas Hafner is the only netminder to ever play in an outdoor game after starting in both wins and earning the Great Lakes Invitational MVP honors.
ALMOST PERFECT
• Saturday's 3-3 tie resulted in the first shootout loss in WMU's history since joining the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. The Broncos went 2-0 last season and were 3-0 until the 2-1 loss against the RedHawks on Saturday. All-time Western Michigan is 21-17 in conference shootouts.
STILL UNDEFEATED WHEN...
• After netting the game-tying goal with 13 seconds left in regulation against Miami last Saturday the Broncos are still undefeated when Colton Hargrove lights the lamp this season. Hargrove's 11 goals lead the team and also tie a personal-best, matching his total from last season. Hargrove and his linemates, Sheldon Dries and Nolan LaPorte, have combined for 23 goals and 20 assists in those games. The team averages 4.2 goals per game when Hargrove tallies and has outscored opponents 42-22.
TIED AT 20
• Through 25 games four Broncos are currently tied for the team lead in points, each with 20 points. Colton Hargrove, Sheldon Dries, Nolan LaPorte and Justin Kovacs are all squared away at 20. Hagrove leads the team with 11 goals while Kovacs has been more of a distributor with 16 assists. Both Dries and LaPorte each have nine goals and 11 assists. Through 25 games last season the Broncos had just three players with 20 or more points, with Kovacs being one of them.
