KALAMAZOO -- The Western Michigan hockey team and head coach Andy Murray have announced the full non-conference portion of its 2015-16 schedule.

The schedule features games against local rivals in Ferris State, Bowling Green and Notre Dame. The Broncos get a chance to defend their 2014 Shillelagh Tournament Championship by also heading back to South Bend during Thanksgiving to once again take part in the Fighting Irish's tournament.

The non-conference portion also features a road trip out to Clarkson to battle the Golden Knights on Oct. 23-24.

Western Michigan opens the season hosting the University of Lethbridge (Alberta) on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m. WMU then hosts former CCHA Rivals Ferris State on Friday, Oct. 9 to open the 2015-16 regular season. The Broncos play at FSU the following night.

Tuesday night hockey returns to Lawson Ice ARena on Oct. 13 when the Broncos host Bowling Green at 7 p.m. WMU makes the return trip to the Falcons on Dec. 30, a Wednesday night game.

The Shillelagh Tournament is pegged for Nov. 27-28 with WMU opening the tournament on Friday against RPI. The Broncos will either play Notre Dame or Harvard on Saturday with the time to be determined. If the Broncos don't meet UND at the Shillelagh, the two teams will play a home-and-home series to open 2016. WMU heads to South Bend on Jan. 8 and the Fighting Irish make the return trip the following night.