Broncos travel west to take on Denver in a pair of NCHC conference games
By Sam O’Toole –
After a couple of two-goal leads were erased this past weekend, the Western Michigan Broncons (3-3-2, 2-0-0 NCHC) look to recover as they travel west for two conference games against the Denver Pioneers (4-5-1, 1-2-1 NCHC).
Last weekend, the Broncos lost and tied to the Northern Michigan Wildcats. The Broncos held a two-goal lead in each game but were unable to come up with a win.
The Broncos do bring an undefeated conference record to Denver, after they swept Colorado College at home in the beginning of November.
The two new conference foes have only played five games against each other, with the Pioneers leading the series 3-2-0. The last meeting came at the 2011 Midwest Regional Semifinals in Green Bay, Wis. where the Broncos fell to the Pioneers 3-2 to double overtime.
Two senior forwards on the Broncos are closing in on the century mark for points in their career at Western Michigan. Chase Balisy (99 points) and Shane Berschbach (90 points) both look to become the 52nd and 53rd Broncos to surpass 100 points in their career.
Berschbach has been on fire this season, registering four goals and seven assists for a team-high 11 points since being held scoreless during the opening weekend. The Clawson native has registered at least one point over the past six games as well as having two three-point games.
After last Sunday’s game against Northern Michigan, Broncos coach Andy Murray attributed Berschbach’s success to his summer program.
“His body weight is up by about 20 pounds of muscle mass,” Murray said. “He’s committed himself to be a hockey player.”
The Broncos’ forwards may be seeing many Denver defensemen jump up into the play in transition, as the top three goal scorers on the Pioneers all anchor the back line. Junior Joey LaLeggia leads the team with six.
The Broncos series against the Pioneers will kick off Friday, Nov. 15 at 9:37 p.m. ET at Magness Arena in Denver, Colo. The finale will be on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 9:07 p.m ET.
The games will be broadcasted over the radio on local station 96.5 FM.