The University of Minnesota Duluth will put its school-record eight-game National Collegiate Hockey Conference winning streak on the line this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 11-12) when the Bulldogs play host to Western Michigan University. Opening faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m. both nights at AMSOIL Arena (6,756) in downtown Duluth.

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THE RECORDS: UMD, winners of four straight, is 7-1-2 overall and a perfect 4-0-0-0 in NCHC play while Western Michigan sports a 5-2-1 mark in all games to go with an even 2-2-0-0 conference mark.

HOW THEY RANK: Here is how the Bulldogs and Broncos stacked up in the this week's USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls as well as the PairWise rankings.

             uscho.com    USA Today    PairWise
UMD    No. 1             No. 1              No. 1    
WMU    RV                RV                No. 15
            
ON THE AIR: The two UMD-Western Michigan clashes will be carried live on 92.1 FM The Fan with Bruce Ciskie handling the play-by-play responsibilities and Bulldog hockey alumnus Kraig Karakas doing color commentary.. The broadcast can also be heard on KQ 105.5 FM in Grand Rapids/Hibbing, Minn. and KQ 106.7 FM in Ely/Virginia, Minn., as part of the Bulldog Radio Network and at: 921thefan.com or free via the iHeartRadio app.

Both ends of this weekend's series will also be televised locally on My9 (KBJR DT 6.2/KRII DT 11.9), which has been the Bulldogs' television home for the last nine seasons. KBJR-TV sports director Zach Schneider and former UMD team captain Judd Medak will serve as the on-air talent both nights. The two telecasts are available on-line for a fee at: nchc.tv/umd.


THE RIVALRY: UMD and Western Michigan have butted heads on 16 occasions previously, including twice last winter (Dec. 4-5) at AMSOIL Arena, where the Bulldogs prevailed 7-0 and 6-2. UMD leads the all-time series 10-5-1 and is 6-5-1 against Western Michigan since the two clubs joined the NCHC ranks in 2013-14.

LAST WEEKEND: In its first two assignments as the nation's top-ranked club, UMD derailed then-No. 8 St. Cloud State University twice by identical scores (5-3) and fashion (the Bulldogs erased a 3-1 second-period deficit both nights) in a two-game NCHC road set. In the opener, freshman right winger Joey Anderson scored twice (the final two goals of the evening) and assisted on another tally while senior center Dominic Toninato and senior left winger Alex Iafallo also turned in three-point performances (each had one goal and two assists). Senior defenseman Carson Soucy struck for a pair of goals -- both in the third period -- the following evening as UMD iced its second series sweep in as many weekends and rans its winning streak in St. Cloud to six games. Anderson, Toninato and Soucy's cousin, sophomore right winger Parker Mackay, accounted for UMD's other three scores.

Western Michigan swept NCHC rival Miami University in Kalamazoo, following up a 6-3 victory Friday with a 5-2 triumph 24 hours later. Matheson Iacopelli racked up four goals (two in each end of the series) and an assist on the weekend for the Broncos.

NO AVERAGE JOE: Friday's series opener is Veteran's Day across the United States and has been designated as the Bulldogs' annual Military Appreciation Night. As part of the festivities, former UMD winger and Virginia, Minn., native Joe Tamminen (1991-95),who has spent the last 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and is currently a Lieutenant colonel assigned to the U.S. Special Operations Command at the McDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., will drop the ceremonial first puck.

WELL DONE: Right winger Joey Anderson and senior Carson Soucy were both honored by the NCHC for their stellar performances in last weekend's twin takedowns of St. Cloud State. Anderson was chosen the NCHC Rookie of the Week while Soucy landed the circuit's Defenseman of the Week award. Of the 20 various Player of the Week awards (Offensive, Defenseman, Rookie and Goaltender) the NCHC has handed out thus far in 2016-17, seven have gone to seven different Bulldogs. Of the 20 various Player of the Week awards (Offensive, Defenseman, Rookie and Goaltender) the NCHC has handed out thus far in 2016-17, seven have gone to Bulldogs -- Anderson, Soucy, Nick Deery (Goaltender on Oct. 10), Neal Pionk (Defenseman on Oct. 10), Adam Johnson (Offensive on Oct. 17), Alex Iafallo (Offensive on Oct. 31) and Hunter Miska (Goaltender on Oct. 31).

A CLEAN SWEEP: UMD and Western Michigan swept all four of the latest NCHC weekly honors as Matheson Iacopelli (Offensive Player of the Week) and Trevor Gorsuch (Goaltender of the Week) joined UMD's Joey Anderson and Carson Soucy.

ON A ROLL: UMD has reeled off a school-record eight consecutive NCHC victories, a run that started with a 4-1 road decision over St. Cloud State on Feb. 26, 2016). Since the NCHC debuted in 2013-14, the Bulldogs have won four straight league bouts in a single season only once and that occurred last year with consecutive sweeps of Colorado College (Nov. 20-21) and Western Michigan (Dec. 4-5). The NCHC record for consecutive overall league wins is 11, which is owned by Denver (Jan. 30-present), while the mark for longest conference winning streak in one season is nine, which Denver also set last winter.

A GOOD OMEN: The last time the Bulldogs had only one loss in their opening 10 games of the year was 2010-11 when they also were 7-1-2 at that juncture on their way to their first NCAA national title.

ONE TOUGH ROOKIE: Right winger Joey Anderson is currently tied for second among NCAA I freshmen in both scoring (12 points) and assists (9). All but one of Anderson's 12 points to date have come in even-strength situations.

ONE TOUGH ROOKIE II: Hunter Miska, who has made four consecutive starts, is the first goalie in program history to commence his career with a 6-0-0 record (Current volunteer goalie coach Brant Nicklin went 4-0-0 before suffering his first setback in 1995-96 and John Hyduke was 5-0-1 in his first six decisions of 1985-86 -- and ultimately went 6-0-1 before his first loss). Miska now has two shutouts in (with the first of those coming in his collegiate debut -- 6-0 over visiting Michigan Tech in the 2016-17 season opener on Oct. 2 and the other on Oct. 29 against then-top ranked North Dakota) in just seven career appearances.

LEAVING PLENTY IN THE TANK: UMD has outscored its opponents 14-2 in the third period in 2016-17 (and 8-0 in the past three games). In fact, the only two goals the Bulldogs have given up all season in the final 20 minutes of regulation game in the same game -- to Notre Dame in a 3-1 setback on Oct. 15 at AMSOIL Arena.

LEAVING PLENTY IN THE TANK II: The Bulldogs have yet to lose this season when they've trailed at the second intermission this season. They've found themselves in that situation five times this year and are 3-0-2 in those outings.

MAKING A POINT ON THE POINT: UMD has more senior defensemen (four) on its 2016-17 roster than any other program in the country. It shares that distinction with Princeton University and St. Lawrence University. Overall, the Bulldog blueline crew has collectively generated 32 points -- a number unsurpassed by any NCHC club and only three teams nationally -- on an NCAA I-leading 10 goals and 22 assists. They also pace the nation in power play scores (7).

MAKING A POINT ON THE POINT II: Sophomore Neal Pionk, is tied for first among the nation's defensemen in both goals (four) and power play tallies (three) and is second in points (11). Pionk's four goals thus far match what he accumulated during his entire 40-game rookie season.

BLOCK PARTY: UMD has blocked more shots this season (15.5 per game) than any NCHC club and all but seven teams in the entire country. They ranked 54th out of 60 NCAA squads one year ago (10.9 bpg).

ONE HOT 'DOG: Senior left winger Alex Iafallo, who resides atop of the NCHC scoring charts with six goals and seven assists, has accumulated nine points in the last four games. He'll come into the weekend ranking 13th nationally and fourth in the NSIC in shots (4.20 per game). By scoring three times in UMD's 5-2 win over North Dakota on Oct. 28, Iafallo became the first Bulldog to record a hat trick since current Tampa Bay Lightning winger J.T. Brown struck for four goals at Alaska Anchorage on Feb. 3, 2012.

AT THE HEAD OF THEIR CLASS: UMD sports the country's top-scoring senior class as that seven-member ensemble has combined to rack up 48 points on 19 goals and 29 assists.

BULLDOG BITS: Eight of the last 10 meetings between UMD and Western Michigan (including this upcoming weekend) have been contested in Duluth.

• After this series, UMD will be home  just once (on Dec. 16 against Bemidji State) until Jan. 6.

• Senior defenseman Carson Soucy and senior left winger Alex Iafallo own the Bulldogs' longest active scoring streaks at four games. That equals a career best for Soucy while Iafallo's longest point run is five games, which he established last year and as a rookie.

• UMD is 2-3 lifetime in NCHC shootouts (all of which have been contested at AMSOIL Arena) and senior left winger Alex Iafallo (twice -- including the league's first-ever successful attempt vs. Denver on Jan. 17, 2014) and senior center Dominic Toninato (once) are the lone two current Bulldogs to score in the post-overtime event. The following are all-time NCHC shootout statistics for current Bulldogs:
 
• UMD has not faced a club this season that was not ranked or received votes in the USCHO.com Poll at the time they played them. Then-No. 17 Michigan Tech paid a visit to AMSOIL Arena for the 2016-17 season openers back on Oct. 1-2 while No. 8 UMass Lowell hosted UMD the ensuing weekend. Four weeks ago (Oct. 15-16), it was No. 5 Notre Dame's turn to take on UMD in Duluth and No. 1 North Dakota followed suit on Oct. 28-29. Last weekend, No. 8 St. Cloud State served as the Bulldogs' competition.

• Prior to Oct. 31, UMD last occupied the No. 1 position in the USCHO.com Poll during the 2011-12 season when it was ranked first for eight consecutive weeks from Dec. 5 to Jan. 30. During that eight-week run, UMD only faced one nationally-ranked opponent and that was No. 8 Western Michigan (in Kalamazoo, Mich. on Jan. 6-7).

• Karson Kuhlman has skated in all 90 games over the last three seasons -- a claim no other Bulldog can make.

• Going back to a 5-4 loss to visiting Minnesota on Oct. 15, 2011, the Bulldogs are unbeaten in 69 of the 70 games they've struck for more than three goals (63-1-6). The sole setback during that stretch was inflicted by Minnesota State University-Mankato on Oct. 17, 2014 in Duluth (5-4 in overtime).

• After commencing his sophomore year by picking up at least one point in each of the first seven outings, center Adam Johnson, has been held without a goal or an assists in the three games since.

• UMD equaled a program single-game record by scoring two shorthanded goals two weeks ago (Oct. 29) against North Dakota with junior right winger Karson Kuhlman (the second of his career) and senior left winger Kyle Osterberg (his third). The Fighting Hawks, incidentally, are last team to collect a shorthanded goal against UMD, doing so on Dec. 12, 2015 after the host Bulldogs had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.

•The Bulldogs are tied for the NCAA I lead in home wins with five. In its six outings at AMSOIL Arena this season, UMD has connected on 25.0 percent of its oower plays (8 for 32) compared to 13.0 percent on the road (3 of 23).

• Senior left winger Alex Iafallo has been credited with five of UMD's last nine empty net goals (dating back to the 2014-15 season). Both freshman Joey Anderson and senior Carson Soucy picked up their first collegiate empty-netters last weekend in St. Cloud.

• Since falling to host Miami University 4-3 in overtime on Feb. 21, 2015, the Bulldogs are 20-0-0 when taking a lead into the third period. They were 14-0-0 in that situation last winter and 4-0-0 so far in 2016-17.

• The 19 blocked shots the Bulldogs registered last Saturday night in St. Cloud were a 2016-17 season high.

• UMD has been outshot only three times this season (in each of their last three Saturday night engagments) and ranks 13th nationally in shots per game average (32.80)

• Scott Sandelin is in his 17th season presiding over the UMD puck program. That's the second longest continuous tenure of any NCHC head coach. (Enrico Blassi is in his 18th year at Miami). Of all-time UMD bench bosses, only Mike Sertich (18 years between 1982-2000) served longer than Sandelin.

• UMD has won just four of the last 28 games that have required overtime, going 4-6-18. Only three active Bulldogs -- senior left wingers Alex Iafallo and Kyle Osterberg and junior right winger Karson Kuhlman -- have an overtime goal on their collegiate resume.

• Going back to last March, the Bulldogs have prevailed in nine of their last 10 games at AMSOIL Arena with the lone loss occurring earlier this season -- 3-1 to Notre Dame on Oct. 15.

 • The Bulldogs are 12-1-0 in their last 13 games on Olympic-sized sheets. During that stretch, UMD is 6-0 at St. Cloud State, 2-0 at Colorado College, 2-0 at Minnesota, 1-0 at Minnesota State University-Mankato and 1-1 at Northern Michigan University. The loss to the Wildcats came last winter (4-3 on Jan. 29).

• Prior to this year, the last time UMD sported only freshmen goaltenders on its roster was in 1985-86. That was also the last time three different Bulldog goalies all made their collegiate debuts in the same season.

• Senior center Dominic Toninato is the second straight Duluth East High School alumnus to serve as the Bulldogs' team captain. Defenseman Andy Welinski handled that responsibility in 2015-16.

•There is almost seven years age difference separating the oldest (senior Brenden Kotyk, who turned 25 last Aug. 27 and is the oldest player in NCAA I hockey) and youngest (freshman Joey Anderson, whose 19th birthday doesn't come up until June 19) Bulldogs.

•There have been 11 father-son combination who have done time with the Bulldogs, with the most latest addition being sophomore forward Adam Johnson, whose dad (Davey Johnson), was a four-year letterman and captained the Bulldogs as a senior center in 1980-81. Senior center Dominic Toninato also followed in his father's footsteps to UMD (Jim Toninato, 1982-86) as did assistant coach and former Bulldog defenseman Brett Larson (Robert Larson, 1968-69).

UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will take their show on the road on Nov. 18-19 to face NCHC rival Omaha.