KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Last season was something else for Western Michigan University's hockey team.
Now it's time for a new season.
''We talked to every player at the end of the season, knowing in Game 1, against Ferris on Thursday night, Ferris players aren't going to care we are defending national champions,'' WMU head coach Pat Ferschweiler said. ''We need to come back better versions of ourselves, and honestly, to a man, every man is stronger, faster and a better player than when they left last year.
''The team went home hungry.