SEASON STATS

THIS WEEK
Western Michigan goes on the road for the Thanksgiving holiday to battle with No. 19 Nebraska-Omaha on Friday at 8:35 p.m. and on Saturday at 8:05. Both games can be heard on COOL 101 1009.9 FM or at www.wqxc.com.

LAST WEEK
The No. 1 ranked Miami Redhawks came in to town and shutout the Broncos on Friday, 3-0. WMU gave up two short handed goals on the night and were shutout for the first time since last year’s 5-0 loss to Michigan.

On Saturday, WMU goaltender Riley Gill made a season-high 42 saves as each team scored an unassisted goal off of a turnover and the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Derek Roehl scored the game-tying goal for the Broncos in the second period, his first of the season. Miami goaltender Connor Knapp made two saves during the shootout and Miami took the extra point with a 2-1 shootout win in three rounds.

SERIES HISTORY
Friday and Saturday will be the 27th and 28th meetings between the two teams, with Nebraska-Omaha leading the all-time series 12-8-6. This weekend will also mark the final time the two teams will meet as part of CCHA regular season play, with UNO joining the Western College Hockey Association next season. WMU is 4-6-2 in Omaha but is undefeated in its last two with a 1-1 tie and 5-1 win.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS
Nebraska-Omaha started off the season 5-0-2 in its first seven games, averaging 3.28 goals per game during the undefeated streak and reaching as high as 10th in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports poll. UNO has went 1-4-1 over its last six with its scoring average dropping to just 2.0 goals per game but giving up 3.33.

Rich Purslow leads the Mavericks in scoring with seven goals four assists for 11 points, with five of his goals coming in conference games. Senior All-Conference defenseman Eddie Del Grosso is the top scorer for UNO from the blue-line with two goals and six assists.

Goaltenders John Faulkner and Jeremie Dupont have split time in net on the season, with Faulkner playing in eight games and Dupont playing in seven. Statistically, Faulkner is the Mavericks’ best option in net with a 3-2-2 record, a .900 save percentage, and a 2.47 goals against average.

Max Campbell and Greg Squires lead all Broncos in points against the Mavericks. Campbell has tallied two goals and two assists in six career games, while Squires has one goal and three assists in four games. Riley Gill has the top marks against UNO among the Bronco goaltenders with a 1-1-1 record, a 2.33 goals against average and a .945 save percentage.

OH WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES - TAKE TWO
At this time last season, WMU freshman defenseman was playing for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. His head coach? Dean Blaise, now the head coach of Nebraska-Omaha.

GOOSE EGG
WMU was shutout in Friday’s loss to Miami, 3-0. It was the first time this season the Broncos failed to tally in a game. The last time the Broncos were shutout was Nov. 15, 2008 in a 5-0 loss to Michigan.

DID I SAY FOUR? MAKE THAT FIVE IN THE SHOW
NHL regulars Joe Corvo and Jamal Mayers started the season with their teams, but now with the additions of Mark Letestu to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Paul Szczechura to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the total is four. Letestu made his NHL debut during his second call up on Nov. 14 against Boston. Szczechura was called up and made his season debut with the Lightning on Nov. 12 against Minnesota. Former Bronco Pat Dwyer made it the fifth member of the Brown & Gold to play in a NHL game this year, as Dwyer was called up by the Carolina Hurricanes and made his season debut in Carolina’s Nov. 19 game against Toronto.

WMU vs. GOLIATH
Under head coach Jim Culhane the Broncos have defeated nationally ranked opponents 36 times. Nebraska-Omaha has fallen victim to WMU twice while ranked, with the last coming Feb. 25, 2006. The Mavericks were then the No. 10 team in the nation and fell to the Broncos 6-3.