Hockey Opens NCHC Play Hosting Miami This Weekend

THIS WEEK
No. 18 Western Michigan welcomes Miami to open National Collegiate Hockey Conference play on Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on NCHC.tv and can be heard live on the Bronco Media Network.
 
LAST WEEK
The Broncos dropped a pair of one-goal contests to No. 4 Michigan in a home-and-home series.
 
In Friday’s 5-4 loss in Ann Arbor, WMU battled back from a 3-1 deficit to tie it up at 3-3 on goals by Max Sasson and Luke Grainger in the second period. Michigan added a goal just before the end of the period to push ahead 4-3, but Jamie Rome tallied on the power play to square the game at 4-4. The Wolverines scored the game-winner at 10:58 in the third on a breakaway goal by Nolan Moyle.
 
On Saturday the Broncos once again had to erase deficits before eventually falling in overtime. Michigan scored five times on the power play, beginning with two by Rutger McGroarty before Ryan McAllister scored on a five-on-three power play to cut the lead to 2-1. Adam Fantilli tallied on the power play at 6:51 to push the Wolverines’ lead to 3-1 but Rome got his second of the weekend at 12:10 to get WMU back within one. Fantilli added another power play goal to send the Broncos into the third period trailing 4-2. McAllister tallied again on the power play early in the third period to get Western Michigan within one, but McGroarty completed his hat trick minutes later to set the deficit back at two. Dylan Wendt netted his second of the weekend just 19 seconds later to cut the lead to 5-4. WMU pulled Cameron Rowe from net for the extra attacker late in the game and Carter Berger tied it up with 1:27 left to play on a shot from the center point to send it to overtime. Luke Hughes netted the game-winner on a 2-on-1 rush with 2:33 left in the period.
 
DAZZLING DEBUT
Western Michigan freshman forward Ryan McAllister had quite the first month of his collegiate hockey career. McAllister finished up the month of October with a team-high 13 points on five goals and eight assists. He was twice named the NCHC Rookie of the Week and followed it up with being named the NCHC’s Rookie of the Month.
 
McAllister tallied points in seven of the nine games in the month, including starting off his career with a five-game point streak. His 13 points ranks him tops among rookies in the NCHC and second among them in the nation.
 
CLAMPING DOWN
Through nine games this season the Broncos have limited opponents to just 23.1 shots per game. WMU has allowed 30 or more shots just twice. In four of the nine games, WMU’s opponents have failed to reach 25 shots on goal.
 
WHEN IN ROME
Fifth-year senior Jamie Rome chose to come back for a fifth year of college hockey and the Broncos are reaping the rewards. The Cochrane Alberta has already matched his previous career high with six points in nine games. His three goals are also a career-best mark. Rome has thrived on the power play, scoring two of his three goals with the man advantage and one of his three assists. He’s also fired off 12 shots on goal on the power play.
 
THE MIAMI REDHAWKS (4-3-1, 0-2-0 NCHC)
THE SERIES: The Broncos took all four games against the RedHawks last season, improving their series lead to 77-70-13 and have a 15-2-2 record in the last 19 games.
 
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: Miami opened NCHC play last weekend, getting swept at home by defending National Champions Denver in losses of 4-0 and 4-2. Prior to that series, the RedHawks were off to a 4-1-1 start with their only loss coming at UMass Lowell.
 
The RedHawks average 2.50 goals per game and are led in scoring by Mathew Barbolini and his eight points. He is tied with Joe Cassetti for the team lead with four goals and also has four assists. Freshman forward Max Dukovac has a team-high five assists.
 
Ludvig Persson is still the stalwart in net for Miami and continues to be one of the best goalies in the nation. Persson has started every game this season and is the only RedHawk goaltender to see action. He has a 2.24 goals against average, a .929 save percentage and one shutout.
 
Miami’s power play has been solid on the season at 25.9 percent (7-for-27). Senior Ryan Savage leads the team with all three of his goals coming on the power play. The penalty kill is at 83.3 percent (30-for-36).
 
ON THE HORIZON
Western Michigan heads on the road for the first time in NCHC play next week, traveling to St. Cloud State to take on the Huskies on Friday and Saturday. Both games can be seen live on NCHC.tv and heard live on the Bronco Media Network.