WMU News

Hockey Broncos host Alaska Fairbanks, travel to Bowling Green.

February 2, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University hockey team (3-16-6, 2-13-6 CCHA) has nine games remaining in the 1998-99 season. Five of the next six WMU games will be played at Lawson Arena before the Broncos hit the road for three final contests. On Friday (Jan. 5), the Broncos host Alaska Fairbanks at Lawson. On Saturday (Jan. 6), they travel to Bowling Green, BGSU Ice Rink. Both contests begin at 7 p.m.

This week's games versus UAF and BGSU can be heard on the Bronco Radio Network (flagship station WFAT-96.5 FM) and on the internet via broadcast.com.

Last week

The Broncos are mired in a seven-game losing streak, the second longest in school history, after dropping a two-game series at Ohio State (Jan. 29-30). The Buckeyes outshot WMU, 44-27, to post a 3-1 victory on Friday. WMU freshman Jeff Reynaert kept the game close by making 41 saves, his second 40-plus saves effort of the season. In the series final, OSU scored 31 seconds into the game en route to an 8-0 triumph, handing Western its biggest loss of the season. OSU netminder Jeff Maund recorded his seventh career shutout while Hugo Bosivert compiled a goal and four assists. The losses ended Western's streak of 15 consecutive seasons with at least one win against the Buckeyes.

Bronco notebook

For the first time this season, Western is alone in last place in the CCHA standings with 10 points, one behind 10th-place Alaska Fairbanks and four points in back of Miami for the final playoff spot. ** Senior assistant captain Matt Barnes moved into fourth place in WMU career saves (2,140) over the weekend, surpassing Brian Renfrew (2,128, 1991-95). ** The paid-attendance crowd of 11,128 Saturday at the Value City Arena in Columbus was the largest WMU has skated in front since the 1991 CCHA semifinals in Joe Louis Arena. ** The Broncos' struggling offense has produced just one goal in the last nine periods. The WMU power play is 0-for-15 in the last three games. ** WMU is still looking for its first road win of the season (0-10-3) and currently rides a school-record 14-game road winless skid dating to last season.

Series information

Western split a two-game series with UAF (3-2, 1-4) in Kalamazoo, Jan. 8-9. The Broncos lead the all-time series, 8-5-1.

Bowling Green rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period to down Western, 5-3, on Falcon ice, Dec. 12. Craig Desjarlais provided the game-winning goal with 3:11 left in regulation. BGSU holds a 60-35-3 advantage in the all-time series.

Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 616 387-4138; daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu


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