WMU News

Hockey team hosts Lake Superior and Ohio State

November 2, 1998

KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan University hockey team (1-3-2, 1-3-2 CCHA) encounters three-time NCAA champion Lake Superior State and 1998 NCAA semifinalist Ohio State this Friday and Saturday in Lawson Ice Arena. Both contests begin at 7 p.m.

Friday's contest will be beamed live on satellite by the Comcast Television Network, whose signal is most prominent in the Detroit area. All games can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network (flagship station WFAT 96.5 FM) and worldwide via the Internet on broadcast.com.

Series information

Lake Superior claimed last year's series, winning two of three games (4-3 OT, 1-4, 4-3), and leads overall 53-29-9. Ohio State took two of three last season (1-3, 4-2, 2-0) with Western leading all-time, 50-38-7.

Scouting report

Idle last week, Lake Superior (0-6-0, 0-4-0 CCHA) is winless in six games having been outscored, 26-10. Junior Jeff Cheeseman (2-3=5) and Tobin Praznik (2-2=4) are the team's lone multiple goal scorers. Netminding chores are being split by Jayme Platt (3.23 GAA, .893%) and Rob Galatiuk (5.05 GAA, .864%). Head Coach Scott Borek is 34-38-9 in three seasons at Lake State and 67-71-14 in six seasons overall. Ohio State (2-4-1, 2-1-1 CCHA) lost to Niagara, 6-3, in Buffalo on Saturday (Oct. 31). Picked to finish second in the CCHA by coaches and media, the Buckeyes have four players sharing team scoring honors: Chris Richards (2-4=6), Hugo Boisvert (3-3=6), Brandon Lafrance (3-3=6) and Vinnie Grant (2-4=6). Forward Eric Meloche, sidelined by injury most of the season, is expected back soon. CCHA rookie team member Jeff Maund owns respectable numbers in goal (3.29 GAA, .899%). John Markell, last year's CCHA "coach of the year," carries a five-year record of 80-80-12 into this weekend's games. Ohio State faces Michigan State on Friday.

Last week

Western Michigan earned a point from Miami (3-3 OT, 7-4 loss) in a two-game series played in Oxford, Ohio (Oct. 30-31). Friday's contest saw the Broncos take a 3-1 lead into the third period behind goals from Daryl Andrews, Corey Waring and David Gove before Miami pulled even, scoring the game-tying goal with 1:08 left in regulation. Junior Jason Redenius scored twice on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to foil the first career start of fifth-year goaltender Andy Marsch. WMU special teams shutdown the CCHA's top power play as the RedHawks (28.6%) were held to 1-for-8 on the man-advantage.

Bronco notebook

Western's discipline play has resulted in a significant drop in penalty minutes. Last year WMU averaged 10.7 penalties and 25.5 minutes per game. Over the last four games, Western's norms are 5.5 penalties and 13.3 minutes * Redenius' performance over the weekend (2 goals, 1 assist ) earned him Bronco "player of the week" honors for the third time this season. Redenius anchors a penalty killing unit that has killed 19 of 20 attempts over the last four games * RW Brett Mills left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury and is questionable for this week. He missed three games earlier this year with shoulder problems * eight different Broncos have scored this season * due to a scheduling conflict with men's basketball, the start time for WMU's Dec. 30 home game against UMass-Amherst has been changed from 7: p.m. to 6 p.m. * Comcast, a Philadelphia-based communications company that owns the Philadelphia Flyers, will broadcast at least nine CCHA games this year and produce the weekly magazine show, CCHA Insider. Friday's broadcast is the season premier and will be carried over the Media One and TCI cable systems. Mark Andrews (play-by-play), Art Regner (color) and Chris McClure (sideline reporter) comprise the announcing crew.

Looking ahead

Western takes a break from competition next week, returning to the ice against Notre Dame (Nov. 20) in South Bend and hosting Michigan State (Nov. 21). Western's homestand continues Nov. 27-28 against Northern Michigan and Miami respectively.

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


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