After two disappointing losses early in the season, the Ohio Hockey club is looking to make a strong comeback Friday and Saturday when they face Western Michigan at home.

Ohio Head Coach Craig McCarthy said it is critical for the team to come out of the weekend with a win because the team heads into another tough two weeks of road games when the Broncos leave Bird Arena this weekend.

This weekend's games are the first real home games for the Bobcats, who played Kent Sept. 24 and 25 at home in preseason games, but have yet to play a regular season home game. Ohio is now 2-2 in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

"It seems like a home opener in that the games have meaning," McCarthy said. "We're into our league play. Points count and stats count."

McCarthy said the team seemed a little off at the beginning of this week.

"We started practice Monday and Tuesday and we really looked like how we played (against Eastern Michigan)," he said. "We were a little disjointed, our forecheck wasn't quite together and our defensive zone wasn't together."

McCarthy said he is satisfied with the progression of the team this week after the losses.

"Hopefully we can up our grade a little bit against a (Western Michigan) hockey team that brings back all of their top players," McCarthy said.

Western Michigan, like Eastern Michigan last week, is coming off big wins against the reigning ACHA champions, Iowa State.

Ohio also is looking to get back at the Broncos after hard losses in Bird Arena early last season.

Ohio forward Jamie Crowler, who scored two goals Friday in the first loss in Ypsilanti, Mich., said even though the Bobcats beat the Broncos in the Bronco's arena later in the season, it would be nice to get back at them for the embarrassing losses at home.

After the two 5-4 losses last weekend, McCarthy said he has pushed team defense, discipline and the forecheck at practice this week.

"Our forecheck is key all the time," said Ohio defenseman Jack Pepper. "You get a good forecheck going; you don't have to worry about playing back in your own zone because they won't have the puck in your zone."

Pepper also said that the forecheck must be complimented by solid team defense.

"(The game) will boil down to our forecheck," McCarthy said. "If we forecheck hard and (the Broncos) have poor defense we will maintain the puck for most of the game. If the forecheck is sporadic, it could go either way."

Both games start at 7:30 p.m. at Bird Arena.