Broncos gain split with Nanooks

By Karl Henkel/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Western Michigan split with Alaska over the weekend, snapping the Nanooks’ seven-game winning streak in the finale in Fairbanks, Ak.

Alaska doubled up Western Michigan, 6-3, in the opener. Patrick Galivan had a goal and two assists for WMU and Tyler Ludwig and Sean Weaver also tallied for the Broncos.

Riley Gill made 26 stops for WMU and Chad Johnson had 20 saves for Alaska.

The Broncos won the second game, 3-2 in overtime, on Max Campbell’s backhander just over a minute into the extra session.

Trailing 2-1 with less than a minute to go, Ryan Watson netted the game-tying goal as the Broncos pulled Gill for the extra attacker.

Ludwig opened the scoring for the Broncos with a power-play goal midway through the second period.

WMU killed off all 11 Alaska power plays over the weekend, a vast improvement for the CCHA’s worst penalty killing unit.

Gill made 33 saves and Johnson made 24.

Western Michigan is 3-11-4 (2-8-4-1 CCHA) and will play in the Dodge Holiday Classic on Jan. 2-3 in Minneapolis. WMU opens against Northeastern and will then face either Minnesota or Brown the next day.