Complete 2009-10 Hockey Information Guide (Small File) - Western ...

league honors with nine short-handed goals while also compiling a 6-1 record in January. The Brown & Gold drew 55,471 fans over 18 dates, recording the highest season average (3,082) in 14years.2001-02 SEASONThe Broncos finished 14th in the final Pairwise Rankings. WMU garnered 13 home wins, including six against nationally ranked teams — among them NCAA Frozen Four participants Maine andMichigan. Freshman Pat Dwyer led all CCHA newcomers in scoring earining Rookie of the Year honors while Dave Cousineau finished as the CCHA’s top scoring defenseman in league games. TheBroncos scored the third-most power play goals in an NCAA game (7) against Lake Superior State. Western Michigan earned home ice for the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons and producedthree sellouts at Lawson Arena.2000-01 SEASONWMU generated an 11-game unbeaten streak and earned a top-five ranking in the national polls en route to a 20-win season. Mike Bishai finished as the nation’s leader in scoring and assistswhile Jeff Campbell led all freshmen nationally in scoring. Bishai and David Gove also finished as co-scoring leaders in conference play. The Broncos spent 15 weeks ranked in the top 15, led theCCHA in scoring and earned a league-high 10 CCHA Player of the Week selections. Other highlights included a Silverado Shootout tournament title and a triumph over top-ranked Michigan State.1999-00 SEASONWMU doubled its win total from the previous year and were rated as the seventh-most improved team in the nation according to USAToday.com. WMU also qualified for the CCHA Tournament for thefirst time in three seasons while posting three wins and a tie against nationally-ranked teams.A native of Haileybury, Ontario, Canada, Culhane coached seven games in an interim capacity during the 1998-99 season, directing WMU to back-to-back ties against defending national championMichigan. WMU recorded a 6-3 victory over Alaska Fairbanks in his coaching debut on Feb. 5, 1999.Culhane, 43, began his coaching duties as a volunteer coach at WMU in 1992-93, moved up to restricted earnings status in 1993-94, and was promoted to full-time assistant in 1994-95. Hebecame the Broncos’ top assistant in 1995-96 and is the first former Bronco varsity player to lead the WMU varsity program.In the area of recruiting, Culhane has been instrumental in landing 10 NHL draft picks, four CCHA Rookie of the Year recipients and two U.S. Junior National Team players.His 2000-01 recruiting class was one of the highest scoring rookie groups in the nation, generating 47 goals and 112 points. Culhane’s recruiting classes have produced NHL draft picks in PatDwyer, Vince Bellissimo, Mike Erickson, Matt Clackson, Chris Frank, Max Campbell, Ryan Watson and Luke Witkowski. Many former players have gone on to sign free-agent contracts with NHL teams.Mark Letestu, Paul Szczechura and Jeff LoVecchio are a few of the many Broncos grinding their way to the top.CULHANE’S WINS VERSUSRANKED OPPONENTS (36)No. 11 Ohio State 4-1 1/24/09No. 18 Alaska 3-2 12/20/09No. 8 Michigan 2-1 11/14/09No. 11 Notre Deame 3-0 2/29/08No. 5/6 Michigan State 2-0 2/17/07No. 5/6 Michigan State 4-3 2/16/07No. 3 Notre Dame 3-2 1/19/07No. 6 Miami 5-3 1/13/07No. 6 Michigan 6-3 12/1/06No. 15 Northern Michigan 3-2 11/18/06No. 3/4 Michigan State 3-2 10/15/06No. 10 Nebraska-Omaha 6-3 2/25/06No. 20 Northern Michigan 4-2 1/27/06No. 13 Michigan State 5-3 11/19/05No. 4 Ohio State 5-4 10/29/05No. 4 Ohio State 5-1 10/28/05No. 12 Northern Michigan 2-1 3/11/05No. 13 Ohio State 6-3 10/29/04No. 12 Ohio State 4-1 2/20/04No. 14 Notre Dame 6-4 12/6/03No. 14 Notre Dame 8-6 12/5/03No. 11 Cornell 3-2 11/1/03No. 8 Ferris State 4-2 10/10/03No. 14 Miami 4-1 1/18/03No. 14 Miami 3-2 1/17/03No. 8 Michigan 4-3 1/11/03No. 12 Ferris State 4-1 11/16/02No. 10 Northern Michigan 4-0 2/9/02No. 10 Northern Michigan 5-3 2/8/02No. 6 Michigan State 2-0 1/12/02No. 6 Nebraska-Omaha 2-0 11/10/01No. 7 Maine 4-3 10/26/01No. 5 Michigan 3-1 10/19/01No. 1 Michigan State 4-2 2/16/01No. 11 Niagara 2-1 2/18/00No. 7 Michigan State 3-2 1/29/00No. 13 Northern Michigan 5-3 11/6/99Off the ice, Culhane involves the Broncos in community service projects and youth hockey clinics.Culhane earned four varsity letters as a WMU defenseman from the years 1983-87. He was a member of the 1985-86 squadthat won 32 games, captured the CCHA Playoff Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.As an assistant captain in 1986-87, he helped WMU to the Great Lakes Invitational crown. Culhane finished as the WMUrecord holder for games played (162) while totaling 80 points (13-67).Culhane went on to play five professional seasons, earning a stint with the National Hockey League’s Hartford Whalers in1989-90.Culhane also spent three seasons with the Binghamton Whalers and two years with the Capital District Islanders of the AmericanHockey League. He was an assistant captain with both clubs.Culhane played junior hockey with the Hawkesbury Hawks of the Central Junior A League and his hometown Haileybury 54’ssquad prior to WMU.He graduated from Western Michigan Universitywith a bachelor’s degree in financein 1987 and attained his master’s degreein business in 1998.Jim and wife Susan, a WMU graduate, havea son, Travis (14), and a daughter, Tatum(12). Culhane has dual citizenship.COACHES BIOGRAPHIES19www.wmubroncos.com • 9 ALL-AMERICANS • www.wmubroncos.com • 3 HOBEY BAKER FINALISTS