WMU News

Hockey Broncos return to action, host Michigan State

November 17, 1998

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's ice hockey team (1-3-4 overall, 1-3-4 CCHA) returns to competitive action after having last week off by facing the top two teams in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Western meets league front-runner Notre Dame on Friday, Nov. 20, in South Bend in the series finale before hosting the second-place Michigan State Spartans Saturday, Nov. 21, in Lawson. This week's games can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network (flagship station WFAT 96.5 FM) and nationwide on the Internet via broadcast.com. Face off for both games is 7 p.m.

Last week

After having a week off, the Broncos are back in line with the rest of the CCHA in terms of games played. WMU slipped however, from seventh to eighth place in the CCHA standings. In its last action, Western garnered two points with back-to-back ties in Lawson Arena. The Brown & Gold skated to a 2-2 overtime tie against Lake Superior State (Nov. 6) after the Lakers pulled even on a sixth-attacker goal from Tobin Praznik with six seconds left in regulation. The next evening, Ohio State saw WMU pull even on Corey Waring's goal with 3:11 left in regulation, forcing a 2-2 tie. Western was outshot in both games (LSSU, 31-23; OSU, 34-16) but was whistled for just 13 penalties while killing all seven power play attempts. Goaltender Matt Barnes stopped 61 of 65 shots for a .938 saves percentage.

Bronco notebook

The Broncos have gone six straight games with 10 or fewer penalties called and over the same period are 26-for-27 on the penalty kill * five games this season have been decided by a goal or less * David Gove, used at all three forward positions, leads the Broncos in scoring (3-3=6) * Jason Redenius has surpassed his career-best total for goals (3) with Matt Addesa matching his season-best figure (3) * Frank Novock, top returning goal scorer of a year ago with 14 markers, is scoreless despite a team-best 24 shots on goal * RW Brett Mills is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury incurred at Miami (Oct. 31).

Series information

Western and Notre Dame complete their season series this Friday in South Bend. Both teams have split this season, with the Irish recording their most lopsided series win ever in a 7-1 triumph Nov. 10 at the Joyce Center. Western earned a measure of revenge in its only win of the season thus far, knocking the No. 7th-ranked Irish from the unbeaten ranks with a 2-1 victory in Lawson Arena, Oct. 24. WMU leads the all-time series, 26-12-2.

MSU and Western battled to a 1-1 overtime tie at Munn Arena on Oct. 16. The Spartans lead the all-time series, 47-19-4.

Scouting reports

Notre Dame earned three of four points last week in South Bend, dumping Bowling Green, 6-2, and tying Michigan, 2-2. Aniket Dhadphale recorded a hat trick against BGSU and has nine goals on the season. Forrest Karr was in goal for both games, stopping 43 of 47 shots. Head Coach Dave Poulin (Notre Dame '82) owns a career record of 44-68-11 in his fourth season at UND.

Michigan State lost at Ohio State, 3-2, then rebounded to defeat Miami, 5-0, in a road trip to the Buckeye State. Netminder Joe Blackburn faced 12 shots to post his first career shutout. Kalamazoo native Adam Hall leads MSU rookies in scoring (5-2=7) and is fourth overall on the team. Center Mike York owns a team-best 11 assists and 13 points. Ron Mason carries a career record of 814-350-65 amassed over 33 seasons; he is college hockey's all-time winningest coach.

Looking ahead

Western stays home to host Northern Michigan (Nov. 27) and Miami (Nov. 28) next week before hitting the road for three straight games prior to the Christmas Break: Lake Superior (Dec. 4), Ferris State (Dec. 5) and Bowling Green (Dec. 12).

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


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