DETROIT – Western Michigan University returns to the ice today as the Broncos kick off the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational with a matchup against Michigan State University.

If the NHL was not in a lockout, the GLI would have been played outside at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, but instead WMU, MSU, Michigan Tech and University of Michigan will be playing at Joe Louis Arena.

WMU will be playing in the GLI for the third time in program history and the first time in 26 years. Western Michigan played in the tournament in 1986, when the Broncos defeated Michigan State 7-3 in the semifinal and then beat Michigan 8-2 in the championship game.

Western Michigan, which also played in the GLI in 1977, last played in a regular season tournament in 2008 when it participated in the Dodge Holiday Classic at the University of Minnesota.

Here's some information about this weekend's tournament with a brief look at each team:

2012 Great Lakes Invitational

Today: Semifinals: WMU vs. MSU, 3:30 p.m.; Michigan Tech vs. Michigan, 7 p.m.

Sunday: Consolation game at 3:30 p.m.; Championship game at 7 p.m.

Records: WMU 11-4-1; MSU 5-10-2; UM 6-9-2; MTU 4-10-3

Radio: WKZO-FM (96.5)

TV: All four games will be on Fox Sports Detroit (there are no live online streams available for WMU's games)



Kalamazoo channels: 737 on AT&T; 33 on Charter; 28 on Comcast; 663 on DirecTV; 430 on Dish Network

Live blog: mlive.com/broncos for both Western Michigan games

Live updates: Kalamazoo Gazette Bronco beat writer David Drew will be tweeting updates during all four games. Follow him at Twtter.com/Drew_on_WMU

About Michigan: Senior forward A.J. Treais leads UM with 16 points (10 goals, 6 assists). Freshman goalie Steve Racine has played in 12 games with a .885 save percentage and 2.94 goals-against average. Junior Adam Janecyk has played in one game, a shutout against WMU on Dec. 15. Michigan averages 2.94 goals/game and gives up 3.35 goals/game. The Wolverines have a success rate of 13.9 percent on the power play and have killed 82.4 percent of their penalties.

About Michigan State: The Spartans average 2.18 goals/game and give up 2.82 goals/game. MSU has scored on 19.1 percent of its power plays and has killed 74.7 percent of its penalties. Sophomore forward Matt Berry leads the team with 16 points (9, 7). Freshman goalie Jake Hildebrand has played in 10 games with a .941 save percentage and 1.81 goals-against average. Junior Will Yanakeff has played in eight games with a .869 save percentage and 3.88 GAA.

About Michigan Tech: The Huskies score an average of 2.65 goals/game and give up an average of 3.71 goals/game. MTU has scored on 16.9 percent of its power plays and has killed 76.6 percent of its penalties. Sophomore forward David Johnstone (4, 9) and freshman forward Alex Petan (4,9) lead the Huskies with 13 points, while sophomore forward Blake Pietila leads the team with 10 goals. Senior Kevin Genoe has played in 11 games and has a .902 save percentage and 3.28 GAA. Freshman Phoenix Copley has played in seven games and has a .851 save percentage and 4.36 GAA.

About Western Michigan: The Broncos average 2.38 goals/game and give up an average of 2 goals/game. WMU has the best power play in the CCHA at 22.2 percent and has killed 85.1 percent of its penalties. Senior forward Dane Walters leads WMU with 13 points (7,6). Sophomore goalie has started all 16 games and has a .918 save percentage and 1.98 GAA.

Predictions:

Friday: WMU 3, MSU 1; Michigan 4, MTU 2.

Saturday: WMU 2, UM 1; MSU 2, MTU 1

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Email David Drew at ddrew1@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Drew_on_WMU