Live Audio | Live Stats

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After almost an entire month off the ice, the D1 Panthers return to the ice on today to host fellow GLCHL member, Western Michigan University at 4:00pm. This will be the first of three games this weekend against the Stallions. Saturday and Sunday will be played in Kalamazoo at the S2 arena.

Western (12-9 overall) is led up front by Eric Kowalski and UM-Dearborn transfer James Telfer who has also been selected to the 2011 World University Games team. Over the past couple weeks, the WUG team played in three exhibition games and Telfer was on a line with DU's own Bobby Collar. Telfer brings a lot of size (6-1, 185) and skill to WMU's top line. Kowalski leads WMU in assists with 28 as it looks like he is the set up guy for Telfer and Micheal Erickson (Royal Oak, MI). Erickson and Telfer lead WMU in goals with 16 and 15 respectively. Western features a strong power play as they have notched 29 goals on the man advantage and have balanced scoring on the PP with 13 different players scoring. It will be important that Davenport stays out of the box to be successful this weekend.

Western is led in goal by junior Andrew Roberts (Newport, MI). Roberts has recorded 9 of the Stallions' 12 wins on the season and features a 3.97 goals against average and an 88% save percentage.

Keys to the game:

• Keep WMU off the power play
• Capitalize on our own power play
• Short shifts
• Shoot from all over the ice
• Block shots coming from the wings

Davenport would also like to welcome a new face to the squad from a familiar family. Bo Jacobs (Twin Lakes, Mich.) (Twin Lakes, MI) has joined the Panthers at the break. Bo is the brother of former Panthers defenseman Cody Jacobs. Last season, Bo helped the Traverse City North Stars make an impressive run to the National Championship game for the TIER 2 Junior A championship. "Bo is a big addition for us on the blueline," stated Assistant Coach Phil Sweeney. "His brother Cody was a very good player and great person and we are excited to add him to our roster. He was awesome for Traverse City last season, and we expect him to be solid for us as well. I feel that Bo is going to be a key to us making a run at our 4th consecutive National Championship, and 1st at the Division 1 level."

Live Audio and Live stats will be available for the game at 4:00pm and can be accessed by the links above.