The Curse of Goggin

The Bronco hockey team will try to break a curse this weekend that has left them winless in each of their last 11 tries at Goggin Arena dating back to 1995. This weekend may the best opportunity yet as the Miami RedHawks are in the midst of a six game losing streak.

The Western Michigan hockey team which stands at 4-5-1 (2-5-1 CCHA) struggled last weekend dropping three of a possible four points to a Notre Dame team that had yet to win a conference game.

But it wasn’t for a lack of effort according to head coach Jim Culhane, “We created a number of opportunities and ran into a couple of good goaltenders. If we continue to play as hard as we have the last few weeks, we’re going to be in good shape this year.”

This weekend the Broncos look to rebound against a team that hasn’t won a game in four weeks, but in a place the Broncos haven’t won at in ten years. “We look forward to the Challenge,” said Culhane. And that challenge will be to hold a Miami team that averaged 5.0 goals a game in their first four games closer to the 2.67 they’ve averaged in their last six.

“Regardless of [their losing streak] they’re a hell of a hockey team,” added Culhane. “They’ll be well prepared, they’re well coached and they have a lot of weapons.”

The high-powered Bronco offense will also have to take advantage of a RedHawk defense that has given up 5.17 goals per game in their current losing streak.

The task at hand will not be an easy one as the Broncos will likely have to face yet another of the CCHA’s elite goaltenders in Brandon Crawford-West who had a .922 save percentage against the Broncos last season giving up only 1.92 goals per game.

The games this weekend will be broadcast live on the Bronco Radio Network via flagship station 100.9fm. This Saturday’s game will also be game #1000 in the history of the Miami program.