Culhane Previews Notre Dame

The only two undefeated teams remaining in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association square off this weekend when Western Michigan University hockey team (2-0-0 conference, 2-0-0 overall) takes on the University of Notre Dame (0-0-0 conference, 1-0-1 overall).

The early conference home-and-home series pits two teams that a pair of preseason polls picked to finish right next to each with Notre Dame taking 7th and WMU finishing 8th in the conference.

Notre Dame finished just one point behind the Broncos a year ago but played strong on the road to take the first round of the CCHA playoffs from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The Irish were defeated in the next round by Northern Michigan University.

WMU took three points in last year’s matchup tying 4-4 and winning 4-2. Both game were in Kalamazoo.

WMU is 11-11-1 at the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind. but has dropped six of the last eight on the road. Lawson Ice Arena is another story. The Broncos dominate the Irish going 16-6-3 while only dropping two of the last 17 games against Notre Dame at home. WMU holds the overall advantage 28-17-4.

WMU’s high-power offense faces a tough young goaltender in sophomore Cey Morgan, who gave up eight goals on 76 shots last year in two games at Lawson. Despite the large goal tallies against the Broncos last year Morgan ranks on top of two school records after just one year. In 35 starts Morgan leads the all-time Notre Dame records in save percentage (.910) and goals-against average (2.72).

Head coach Jim Culhane had not decided who would man the net for the Broncos although freshmen Scott Foster got the call in the sweep against Bowling Green State University. Sophomore Mike Mantua played both games last year stopping 51 of 57 Irish shots-on-goal and also recorded as assist to Mike Bishai on a power play goal. Mantua has yet to play in either game this year but posted a solid 7-6-2 with a 3.03 GAA as a freshman last year.

“We’re very confident in both guys,” Culhane said. “I was pleased with Scott’s play and I was pleased with Mike’s practice this week.”

Foster received a majority of the work in Wednesday’s practice.

This is the second straight CCHA opponent the Broncos have faced off against to open the season.

“We only had eight practices before starting conference play (BGSU),” Culhane said. “It’s not something I would prefer to do, but you have to work through it.”

After the first weekend junior captain Dana Lattery, freshmen Vince Bellissimo, and senior assistant captain Dave Cousineau lead the team with four points each. Lattery had a goal and three assists and captured the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week. Bellissimo netted three goals and a helper garnering the Toronto, Ontario native CCHA Rookie of the Week.

WMU heads to South Bend, Ind. for a 7:05 p.m. start Friday at the Joyce Center. Both squads travel to Kalamazoo for the 7:05 p.m. puck drop Saturday at Lawson.