Michigan
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Western Michigan
Halloween at Yost to Open Home-and-Home Series with No. 18 Broncos
10/23/2019 11:33:00 AM | Ice Hockey
THIS WEEK
Friday, Oct. 25 -- vs. No. 18 Western Michigan (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
TV: BTN+ | Tickets | Live Stats | Live Video | Live Audio
Saturday, Oct. 26 -- at No. 18 Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.), 7 p.m.
Live Stats | Live Audio
PROMOTIONS
• Oct. 25: Halloween at Yost -- Trick-or-Treat, Prizes for best Halloween-dressed fans
• Full Promotions Schedule
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
The University of Michigan ice hockey team (2-1-1) will take on No. 18-ranked Western Michigan (1-2-1) in a home-and-home weekend series against the Broncos. On Friday (Oct. 25) the Wolverines will host WMU at 7:30 p.m. in its annual Halloween at Yost game. All fans are encouraged to come dressed in their Halloween costumes. The best-dressed fans will have the opportunity to win special Michigan hockey prizes. All children in 6th grade and Under are invited to trick-or-treat with event team members around Yost Ice Arena and visit the Halloween set-up in the southeast corner for an opportunity to win special prizes.
On Saturday (Oct. 26), the teams will head to Kalamazoo for the series finale at 7 p.m. from Lawson Arena.
The Series
Michigan and Western Michigan will meet for the 117th and 118th time in program history. The Wolverines lead, 72-34-10, in the all-time series against the Broncos, including a 43-13-2 record at Yost. From 1979-2013, the two programs met at least twice per season until the CCHA was disbanded. The teams met last season for the first times since 2013, with a home-and-home series in early October.
In that series, the No. 11-ranked Wolverines defeated the No. 19-ranked Broncos, 6-5, at Yost on Oct. 19 as six different Wolverines found the back of the net. Dakota Raabe scored the eventual game-winner off assists from Brendan Warren and Luke Morgan, at the 10:10 mark of the third period.
The next night (Saturday, Oct. 20), Western Michigan earned a 5-4 victory in Kalamazoo as nine different players scored goals and the Broncos fought back from a 4-3 deficit in the third period.
Scouting the Broncos
Western Michigan is ranked No. 18 in the latest edition of the US College Hockey Online poll (Oct. 21). The Broncos also are receiving votes in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. WMU is coming off the wrong end of a sweep against Bowling Green last weekend (Oct. 18-19), dropping a pair of 2-1 decisions. They started the season with a tie at home against Ohio State on Oct. 11 before a 5-2 win over BGSU on Oct. 12.
Andy Murray enters his seventh season at the helm of Western Michigan, having coached the Broncos to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2010, 2017). Murray has 10 years of NHL head coaching experience as he spent six seasons as the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings and four with the St. Louis Blues. Murray is the Kings' all-time wins leader with 215 and led them to three 90-point seasons.
Leading WMU
Nine different players have scored for WMU this season with Dawson DiPietro, Drew Worrad and Hugh McGing tied for the team lead in points with one goal and two assists each. Brandon Bussi has started all four games in goal and has a 1.96 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. He has allowed three power-play goals.
Last Time Out
The Wolverines swept a weekend series against Lake Superior State at Yost Ice Arena. On Friday (Oct. 18), goaltender Strauss Mann turned back 24 shots for his first career shutout while four different players scored in a 4-0 victory. Nolan Moyle, Nick Blankenburg, Jack Becker and Will Lockwood all lit the lamp, while Jacob Hayhurst won nine of 14 faceoffs.
On Saturday (Oct. 19), Michigan jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period and held on for a 4-3 victory. Becker scored twice while Jack Summers and Jimmy Lambert also scored. Freshman Johnny Beecher logged two assists and won 16 of 20 faceoffs. Michael Pastujov also logged two assists and Hayhurst continued his steady play at center with nine faceoff wins in 13 attempts. Mann picked up his second win of the weekend with 23 saves.
Sharing the Wealth
Michigan continues to show its scoring depth this season as eight different Wolverines have found the back of the net for the team's 10 goals and a total of 15 players have registered points through the first four games.
B1G Stars
Jack Becker was named the Big Ten's Third Star with his three goals on three shots. The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earned his second career weekly honor and first since Feb. 6, 2018 (Third Star).
Welcome Weekend
Freshman Eric Ciccolini recorded his first career points against LSSU on Friday (Oct. 18) with a pair of assists in a 4-0 victory. He added an assist in Saturday's (Oct. 19) win.
Graduate student Shane Switzer played in his first game as a Wolverine against LSSU on Friday and registered an assist in the victory.
Graduate student Jacob Hayhurst registered his first assist as a member of the U-M program in Friday's win over LSSU. He also won 18 faceoffs in 27 attempts in the series against the Lakers.
Johnny Beecher registered his first career assist against LSSU on Friday night (Oct. 18). His first multi-point game came Saturday night (Oct. 19), with a pair of assists in a 4-3 victory and also won 16 of 20 faceoffs in the game.
Freshman Keaton Pehrson registered his first career point with an assist against Lake Superior State on Oct. 19.
Strauss' Haus
Sophomore goalie Strauss Mann registered his first career shutout, a 4-0 Wolverine win against Lake Superior State on Friday (Oct. 18) with 24 saves. He followed up that effort on Saturday (Oct. 19) with 23 saves in a 4-3 victory.
Nine Times?
Jacob Hayhurst, Johnny Beecher and Nick Pastujov all won nine faceoffs in a 4-0 win over LSSU on Friday (Oct. 18). That same trio combined for 34 faceoff wins against LSSU on Saturday (Oct. 19): Beecher (16), Hayhurst (nine) and Pastujov (nine).
With a Little Help from my Friends
Michael Pastujov logged a career-best two assists in a 4-3 victory over Lake Superior State on Oct. 19.
Milestone Marker
Michigan earned its 600th Yost Ice Arena victory with its 4-0 victory over Lake Superior State on Friday (Oct. 18).
Up Next
Friday, Nov. 1 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 5 p.m.
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