Top-Three Teams to Go Toe-To-Toe as Michigan Faces No. 2 WMU in Home-and-Home

Thursday, October 23

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:00 PM

Michigan

Western Michigan

(Michigan Photography)

Top-Three Teams to Go Toe-To-Toe as Michigan Faces No. 2 WMU in Home-and-Home

10/21/2025 2:23:00 PM | Ice Hockey

Complete Game Notes

By: Kristy McNeil

Promotions

Oct. 23
• Hock-toberfest -- Celebrate Oktoberfest at Yost Ice Arena with Michigan Hockey.
• Michigan Hock-toberfest Shirt Giveaway -- Available to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (6-0) takes on No. 2 Western Michigan (3-1) in a home-and-home series this week. The teams face off on Thursday (Oct. 23) at Yost Ice Arena at 7 p.m., with the game televised on Big Ten Network. The following night, (Oct. 24) the teams rematch at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo with a 7 p.m. puck drop on NCHC.tv.

Notes

• At 6-0, Michigan moved up one spot to No. 3 in the USCHO national poll this week. The Wolverines are just one of two unbeaten teams without any ties, joining Miami (4-0) out of the NCHC.

• The Wolverines lead the nation in scoring offense, averaging 6.67 goals per game, with the next closest team 1.92 goals per game back. With 40 goals through six games, this is Michigan's best offensive start 1990-91.

• This is also Michigan's best defensive start since the 1926-27 season, when Michigan allowed seven goals through the first six games, averaging 1.17 goals per game -- tops in the NCAA. Freshman netminder Jack Ivankovic has been in net for each game and has a 1.17 goals-against average -- the best in the nation for goalies who have played four games or more -- and a .942 save percentage.

• Sophomore Michael Hage leads the offense with five goals and six assists for 11 points in six games, ranking fifth nationally in points per game. Sophomore Will Horcoff and junior Ben Robertson follow with nine points in six games. All nine of Robertson's points have been via assist, as he leads the nation in that category.

• The Wolverines are currently sixth in the nation in faceoff percentage, with captain T.J. Hughes leading the way at 64 percent (64-36). Freshman Cole McKinney, Hage and senior Kienan Draper -- Michigan's top-four centers -- are 50 percent or better.

• Michigan leads 77-37-10 in the all-time series against WMU. The teams split the series four times in the last five seasons, with Michigan sweeping in 2022. The last time the Broncos won both was during the 2013 season.

• Senior Josh Eernisse is the nation's leader in shorthanded goals, as he has two to his credit this season. Nick Moldenhauer and Malcolm Spence also have shorties this season. The NCAA record for most shorthanded goals in a season is 22 in 1996-97.

• Michigan's power play is converting at a 45.8 percent clip, scoring on 11 chances this season. Hage and Horcoff each have a team-best three power-play goals apiece.

• November 2022 is the last time Michigan was ranked No. 3 and played the No. 2-ranked team, with Minnesota sweeping. Michigan is 10-19 when playing against the No. 2 team in the nation (since polls started in 1995), and owns a 51-32-6 record when it is ranked No. 3.