Broncos add Trenton's O'Connor to recruiting class

Broncos Head Coach Jim Culhane
will add 8 new Broncos to his stable

KALAMAZOO — The Western Michigan Broncos have announced the signing of eight student-athletes to National Letters of Intent.

Included in the list is defenseman Kevin O’Connor from Trenton. O’Connor’s most recent experience has been on the blueline for the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League. In 51 games in Omaha, the 21-year old defenseman recorded five goals and 20 assists with 82 penalty minutes. Last season, O’Connor ranked second in scoring among Lancer defensemen and played alongside fellow WMU recruit, winger Jeff Lovecchio.

Joining O’Connor and Lovecchio in K’Zoo are: RW Matt Clackson, LW-C Sean Weaver and LW Dave Krisky.

Signees LW-C Chris Clackson, C Mark Letetsu and D Julian Zamparo have plans to play another season of juniors before donning the Broncos sweater.

This group joins early signees D Chris Frank and G Ryan Mensing who committed to the Broncos in the fall.

Last season Western Michigan finished 14-21-2 overall and tied for tenth in the CCHA with a conference record of 8-18-2.

Please click here for the official WMU Athletics recruiting press release.

Lakers Set to Sail into New Season

Incoming junior Jeff Jakaitis has led
the Lakers in wins two years in a row

SAULT STE. MARIE - Ferris State, Northern Michigan and Western Michigan will be Lake Superior State's cluster rivals during the 2005-06 hockey season.

The Lakers, who have announced next season's schedule, will play four games against those three Central Collegiate Hockey Association opponents and two games against the remaining league teams. Their non-conference schedule includes rematches with Colgate on Oct. 14-15 and Bemidji State on Dec. 9-10. Last year, LSSU opened the regular season with back-to-back one-goal losses to the Raiders. The Lakers split their series with the Beavers, who have rekindled a rivalry with LSSU that dates back to the beginning of Laker hockey.

LSSU has added a home series against Robert Morris, which is in its second year of NCAA Division I ice hockey, to its schedule. The Lakers will play host to York and the USNTDP Under-18 squad in exhibition games during its opening weekend on Oct. 7-8. Seven of LSSU's first eight games of 2005-06 will be at Taffy Abel Arena.

The annual "Home-and-Joe Series" will begin on Thursday, Feb. 23, with a home game against Michigan State. That contest will also be the final regular-season home game for LSSU's 12 seniors. On Saturday, Feb. 25, the Lakers and MSU will face off at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Both games are scheduled to begin at 7:35 p.m.

LSSU will play the majority of its home games during the first half of the season. Thirteen of 19 home dates are scheduled prior to the three-week Christmas holiday break.

The CCHA has changed its playoff format, forcing the regular season to be shortened by one week. The CCHA Playoffs will be three weeks instead of two with the first round including only the bottom eight teams. First-round winners will play the league's top four teams during the second round, eliminating the two quarterfinal games at Joe Louis Arena. The CCHA semifinals and finals will be March 17-18 at The Joe.

Generally, the quarterfinal games at The Joe have been poorly attended. This new format will give more teams a chance to host a playoff series. The CCHA reintroduced the four-team system used in 18 of the 24 years since the event was first held at The Joe in 1982. The "Super 6" format was utilized for the past four years, including 2005, and six teams also participated in 1993 and 1994.

Please click here for the official LSSU Athletics press release and schedule

Warrior women name '05-06 captains

Senior center Jessica Snelgrove will captain
the Warriors through their seventh season

Wayne State University head women's hockey coach Jim Fetter announced today the selection of captains for the 2005-06 season.

Senior center Jessica Snelgrove will serve as the captain after serving last season as a co-captain. She was an alternate captain as a sophomore in 2003-04.

Three assistant captains were also selected: senior defensemen Peyton Patterson and Kristi Thome and sophomore wing Ashley King.

Patterson and Thome also served as assistant captains for the 2004-05 campaign.

"With three of our four captains returning from last year I expect them to help lead our underclassmen throughout the season," said Fetter.

The Warriors open the 2005-06 campaign on Oct. 7-8 at Bemidji State.

WSU Athletics official press release here.