While Miami has largely worked through its ‘hasn’t won since…’ checklist thanks to a hot start, still prominent on that sheet is: Last-time conference road win, which has eluded the RedHawks for over 2 1/2 years.
And the RedHawks — who led the all-time series against Western Michigan until the past few years — have struggled mightily against the Broncos in recent years, having dropped 17 of 18 meetings vs. the defending national champions.
VFG takes a look at the upcoming series:
WHO: Miami RedHawks (7-1, 1-1 NCHC) at Western Michigan Broncos (5-5, 1-3).
WHERE: Lawson Arena (3,667) Kalamazoo, Mich.
WHEN: Friday–7 p.m.; Saturday–6 p.m.
ALL-TIME SERIES: Western Michigan leads, 88-71-13.
VIDEO STREAMING: NCHC.tv ($).
MIAMI RADIO: Miamiredhawks.com, Greg Waddell (PxP).
WESTERN MICHIGAN RADIO: Both nights–KRZO-AM (590) and KRZO-FM (106.9).
NOTES: Western Michigan has been just fine offensively, but early this season, the Broncos have struggled to stop the puck, allowing 33 goals in their first 10 games.
WMU’s team save percentage is sixth-last in college hockey, and Hampton Slukynsky — the Los Angeles Kings’ fourth-round pick who was lights-out last season with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage as a freshman, is suffering through a major sophomore slump, with a 3.14 GAA and a save percentage of .880.
Slukynsky’s backup is Gavin Moffatt, a starter with USHL Green Bay last season, and former RedHawk Kirk Laursen is the Broncos’ third goalie.
On defense, fourth-round Dallas selection Samuel Sjolund lead the team in defenseman goals (3), assists (5) and points (8) and tops all WMU skaters in TOI (20:44).
Pittsburgh draftee Joona Vaisanen is 0-6-6 in seven games but missed Western Michigan’s series vs. Denver last weekend, and San Jose Sharks draftee sophomore Zack Sharp has two goals and three assists.
Blueliner Cole Crusberg-Roseen already has four assists for the Broncos after a 12-point campaign in 2024-25, and Ottawa selection Theo Wallberg is a key WMU shut-down D-man.
Up front, Slukynsyk’s brother, Grant Slukynsyk, leads the team with 10 assists and 12 points, and the fellow he is the team’s average ice team leader among forwards at 19:02.
Providence transfer Liam Valente scored 14 goals in his WMU debut and leads the team with six tallies already this season. Third-round Columbus draftee William Whitelaw has scored five times and is tied with Sjolund for the team points leads with eight.
Ty Henricks, Zach Nehring and Zaccharya Widsom are all also NHL draftees and have combined for 20 points. Nehring was taken in the third round by Winnipeg, and Henricks and Wisdom were selected by the New York Rangers and Seattle, respectively.
Miami’s 4.38 goals-per-game clip ranks second in Division I, so this may be a high-scoring series.
RedHawks freshman Kocha Delic has points in all eight games and was named the NCHC’s top rookie. He leads MU with 11 points, including five goals.
MU’s last conference road win was on Feb. 25, 2023 at Minnesota-Duluth. The RedHawks are 0-28-2 in away games vs. NCHC opponents since.
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VFG is headed to Belfast to cover Miami in the Friendship Four this November. We’re a completely independent website, so we bring you RedHawks hockey coverage without a dime of corporate compensation. If you like our work and have the means, please consider helping us continue to provide the best RedHawks coverage and photos by contributing via Venmo here:
View From the Glass 
I keep drawing comparisons to IU football, but as Coach Cignetti said about his squad after defeating Penn State in Happy Valley this week when asked about IU never having won there before: this team hasn’t played here before. Go Miami, light it up in K-zoo!
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