KALAMAZOO -- After a slow start to the 2008-09 season, the Western Michigan hockey team rebounded to post a 10-6-3 record during the second half of the season and made it to the second round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament. The Brown & Gold look to build upon that momentum from last year and extend it to the 2009-10 season, but to do so the Broncos must replace a few valuable departures.

From an offensive standpoint WMU must replace the production of Patrick Galivan, the 2009-10 CCHA Scoring Champion. In the final 12 games of the season, Galivan averaged just over two points per game and racked up 25 points on 10 goals and 15 assists. Galivan's creative play also helped junior center Max Campbell score a career-best 16 goals, including 11 on the power play.

After struggling offensively in the 2007-08 season, 11th year head coach Jim Culhane brought in a forward-heavy recruiting class which combined for 36 goals and 55 assists to help the Broncos increase their total of 82 goals in 2007-08 to 111. With the offense set in motion, the Broncos brought in a strong class with four defenseman to add depth to a blue line depleted by graduation.

Although Chris Frank did not produce offensively near the level of Galivan, his physical presence and leadership will be hard to replace. Frank played 149 games in his four years with Western Michigan and was a captain for his final two seasons. Taking over his role at captain will be Tyler Ludwig with Jordan Collins and Cam Watson as assistant captains. Chris Clackson will also be an assistant captain at home games, while sophomore Ian Slater will wear the “A” during road games instead of Clackson. Ludwig was an assistant captain during the 2007-08 season and part of the 2008-09 season before being named co-captain.

THE FORWARDS
The top returning forward for the Broncos is the junior centerman from Strathroy, Ontario. Campbell set a career-high in goals with 16 and points with 31 and was the Brown & Gold's top finisher on the power-play. Campbell added strength last season and will be looked upon to improve his defensive game this season.

“Max is very effective on the power play for us and has that ability to score goals that few players have,” assistant coach Scott Robson said. “Max improving defensively will give him more opportunities on the ice.”

Greg Squires finished the season third in freshman scoring in the CCHA with 29 points. Squires lit the lamp only seven times but dished out 22 assists, second on the team. Squires teamed up with Galivan and Campbell on the power play that ranked fourth in the league and 13th nationally.

“When Greg is playing well, he is one of the first guys in on the forecheck and uses his skating ability and skillful passing to generate offense and find guys,” added Robson.

Another group that caught fire last season was the combination of freshman wings Kyle O'Kane and J.J. Crew, matched with centerman Jared Katz. Crew finished tied for fifth on the team with 18 points on seven goals and 11 assists. Crew and Katz used their speed and skill to generate offense. While O'Kane isn't blessed with the speed that his two linemates have, he was the finisher of the line, racking up 10 goals on the season.

Now entering his senior year, Clackson started off last season well and ended it well, but a broken foot derailed the middle of his season. Despite the injury, he still appeared in 30 games and was the top faceoff man for the Broncos. He scored a career-high seven goals and had a career-high nine points on the season.

“He is a very competitive kid who works very hard,” assistant coach Marc Fakler said. “He is a big, strong body that skates well. He can be a physically-intimidating presence for the team when he is on the ice.”

Watson took more of a defensive roll during the 2008-09 season, but was still able to contribute offensively with 13 points on five goals and eight assists and played in 40 of WMU's 41 games.

Slater was a freshman who saw significant playing time, suiting up in 37 games. Slater was counted on to play on the defensive lines as well as kill penalties and did a good job of it, tallying two short-handed goals on the season.

“He has great leadership, character and work ethic,” commented Fakler. “He is one of those kids that is willing to sacrifice his body to block shots. He works extremely hard every day and sets a great example for everybody in the locker room. His effectiveness for us is measured on how hard he plays and how he creates chaos for the opposing team.”

THE BLUE LINE
Last season, Ludwig had to produce on the ice and help the development of a young defenseman, Kevin Connauton. This year, Ludwig will be counted on to do the same by helping out the four freshman defensemen brought in for this season. Ludwig's offensive numbers were at the top of the CCHA as he finished third in defensman scoring with 29 points on eight goals and 21 assists, all career highs. The Colleyville, Texas, native was one of four Broncos and two defensemen to play in all 41 games.

“As Tyler has grown throughout his career he has got better and better,” said Fakler. “He brings a calming influence to the guys. He did a good job mentoring Connauton last year and certainly helped his development. He is one of our hardest workers and it sets a great example for our young guys.”

The other defenseman to play in all 41 games was Collins. A solid stay-at-home defenseman, Collins is the biggest body the Broncos can throw out on a given night, coming in at 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds. Until last season, he had only played in 24 games in his two years at WMU.

Another defenseman that saw a big increase in playing time was Mike Levendusky. The junior played in 29 games last year contributing three assists. As the season went on Levendusky saw his role increase, playing in the final 21 games. The Greensburg, Pa., native also had the highest plus/minus ratio, plus-six, of any other defenseman on the team.

THE NETMINDERS
Riley Gill enters his senior season with his name cemented in the WMU record books. Last season, Gill picked up his sixth and then seventh career shutouts to move ahead of former Bronco Mark Magliarditi for the most in school history. The Northfield, Minn., native also did two things no other Brown & Gold goaltender ever has, post back-to-back shutouts and win his second career game at Michigan's Yost Arena. Gill's record-setting shutouts were a 5-0 thrashing of Nebraska-Omaha and a 3-0 win over Alaska.

Gill was on his “A” game and made 33 saves, while only allowing one goal to the then No. 8 team in the nation for his second career win at Yost Arena. Gill finished the season with a 13-13-3 record along with a 2.91 goals against average and a .920 save percentage.

Junior Jerry Kuhn saw significant action last season, starting in 12 games and posting a 1-7-4 record. Kuhn was also the winning netminder in WMU's first ever shootout in CCHA play against Ferris State.

THE NEW GUYS
Eight student-athletes will get the chance to make their collegiate debut with the Broncos this season. Brett Beebe (Chicago Steel/USHL), David Chaney (Mahoning Valley Phantoms/NAHL), Trevor Elias (Langley Chiefs/BCHL), Ross Henry (Lincoln Stars/USHL), Ben Miller (Waterloo Black Hawks/USHL), Matt Tennyson (Cedar Rapids Rough Riders/USHL), Dane Walters (Sioux Falls Stampede/USHL) and Luke Witkowski (Fargo Force/USHL) will have an opportunity to play this season.

Beebe, a right-winger from Redondo Beach, Calif., combines good vision and skill to add depth to the forwards. Chaney, a defenseman from Shelby Township, Mich., comes to WMU after a successful season in Mahoning Valley and will be one of four young defenders competing for playing time.

Elias comes to the Broncos after playing three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League. The Calgary, Alberta native racked up 55 goals and 100 assists in 157 games.

“Trevor is a speedy, play-making forward,” said Robson. “He does a nice job finding guys and moving the puck. He can create lots of offensive opportunities with his speed.”

Henry played three years with the Lincoln Stars and was a captain during his final season. While the young defeseman was not counted on to produce offensively, he did see time on the power play during his final season.

“He is a solid, steady defenseman,” added Fakler. “He plays a real physical game with a lot of intensity and jam. Ross is a smart hockey player that can move the puck very well. He may not always be noticed, but he is really effective at what he does.”

Miller played with current Bronco Kyle O'Kane when the two played with the St. Louis Bandits of the NAHL two years ago. Miller put up great numbers that year and matched them last year in his first season in the USHL. The skilled forward compiling 22 goals and 26 assists in 55 games last season.

“Ben does a great job at putting himself in good position,” said Fakler. “He has a quick release and can really shoot the puck. He has a good hockey sense and vision and has a chance to be a real asset on the power play.”

Tennyson is the largest of the eight newcomers at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds. Despite his big frame, the defenseman has the ability to move the puck and is light on his feet. The Pleasanton, Calif., native played in 57 games with the Rough Riders in Cedar Rapids, contributing with 10 points and only registering 51 penalty minutes.

Walters is another youngster that brings leadership experience to the Broncos, having captained the Stampede for two years. He had his best offensive year last season, scoring nine goals and tallying 17 assists in 54 games and also scored three goals in four playoff games.

“Dane is a smart, well rounded hockey player,” comments Fakler. “He competes really hard and plays fearless. He'll block shots and do a lot of those little things that coaches really like out of players. He has the ability to play in all situations and adds some real depth for us.”

Witkowski comes to the Broncos with the most accolades out of any of the new comers. The 6-foot-2, 201 pound defenseman was drafted in the sixth round by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Growing up just north of Kalamazoo in Holland, Mich., Witkowski played two seasons in the USHL. His first season was with the Columbus Junior Blue Jackets and then with the Fargo Force once the Blue Jackets relocated. Witkowski tallied six goals and 16 assists last season and also boasted a plus-30 plus/minus rating.

COACHES
Culhane  returns for his 11th full season at the helm with the Broncos. He is 150-202-40 in his 10 seasons with the Broncos and earned his 100th career CCHA victory last season. Culhane returns his full staff with fourth-year assistant Fakler and second-year assistant coach Robson.

Western Michigan opens the 2009-10 season hosting Mercyhurst on Friday., Oct. 16 at 7:35 p.m. and at 8 p.m. on Saturday.