MiCHO Week 8 Results

The Michigan Tech Huskies are the only remaining unbeaten D-1
team in the country. (photo courtesy Bemidji State Athletics) 

The Michigan Tech Huskies are #1 for the first time in their storied history after a two-game sweep at Bemidji State.

Friday- MTU 2, BSU 1
Saturday- MTU 4, BSU 2

Ferris State got a pair of easy wins in Big Rapids as they racked up 14 goals in a demolition of Alaska-Anchorage.

Friday- UAA 2, FSU 10
Saturday- UAA 0, FSU 4

Lake Superior went south and earned a split at Alabama-Huntsville.

Fri- LSSU 1, UAH 0
Sat- LSSU 2, UAH 5

It's back to the win column for the Michigan Wolverines after a home sweep of American International in Ann Arbor.

Fri- AI 2, U of M 5
Sat- AI 3, U of M 6

Michigan State played a single game in East Lansing and were narrowly clipped by the BC Eagles.

Fri- BC 3, MSU 2

And finally, Western Michigan made it interesting against St. Cloud State in Kalamazoo with a close loss and shootout win.

Fri- SCS 4, WMU 3
Sat- SCS 1, WMU 1 (Broncos win shootout, 1-0, in 6 rounds) 

MiCHO Week 4 Results

The Michigan State Spartans began the new season with a 5-3 win over UMass in East Lansing.
(photo courtesy of Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications)

#10 Michigan rallied at Yost for a two-game split with visiting New Hampshire.

Friday recap -  UNH 5, U of M 1
Saturday recap - UNH 1, U of M 2

The Northern Michigan Wildcats opened their season with a bang as they swept the #18 Wisconsin Badgers at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

Friday recap - NMU 2, U of W 0
Saturday recap - NMU 4, U of W 1

Michigan State began the campaign with a split at Munn against Massachusetts.

Friday recap - UMass 3, MSU 5
Saturday recap - UMass 4, MSU 3

There was no joy at the Lawson Arena as the WMU Broncos were swept aside by Nebraska-Omaha.

Friday recap - UNO 5, WMU 2
Saturday recap - UNO 3, WMU 0

#4 Ferris State went on the road and split with St. Lawrence in Canton, NY.

Friday recap - FSU 3, St. Lawrence 2
Saturday recap - FSU 0, St. Lawrence 2

Lake Superior is still searching for their first win of the year as they hammered by Notre Dame in South Bend.

Friday recap - LSSU 3, ND 5
Saturday recap - LSSU 1, ND 5

MiCHO Week 3 Results

Ferris State beat up Wilfrid Laurier in Big Rapids on Friday. (Photo courtesy of FSU Athletics)

#9 Michigan shoots past Wilfrid Laurier, 5-2, in the Wolverine's final exhibition game in Ann Arbor.
Thursday recap-  UofM

Western Michigan and Canisius split a pair at the First Niagara Center.
Friday recaps - Canisius 4, WMU 2
Saturday recaps - WMU 4, Canisius 1

Lake Superior falls to 0-4 after getting swept on the road at Robert Morris.
Friday recaps-  RMU 3, LSSU 1     USCHO
Saturday recaps- RMU 3, LSSU 0     USCHO

The eighth ranked Bulldogs hammer Wilfrid Laurier, 4-1, in their final tune-up game at Ewigleben.
Saturday recap - FSU

MiCHO Week 2 Results

Broncos win Border Battle in K'Zoo (photo courtesy of GS Photo / WMU Athletics) 

#9 Ferris State slips past #8 Michigan in Big Rapids. 

• Saturday recaps - FSU UofM USCHO 

Michigan Tech sweeps Lake Superior in the Sault. 

• Saturday recaps - MTU LSSU USCHO
• Sunday recaps - MTU LSSU USCHO

Western Michigan and Toronto finish 2-2, Broncos win in shootout at the Lawson Arena.

• Saturday recap - WMU

Michigan puts up a touchdown in exhibition win over the US Under-18 squad at Yost.

• Monday recap - UofM

Michigan State skates to a 2-2 tuneup tie at Munn against Windsor.

• Tuesday recap- MSU

U of M, MSU, and WMU to play in Hockey City Classic

Photo courtesy Coyote Hockey City Classic

The Michigan Wolverines, Michigan State Spartans, and Western Michigan Broncos will all be heading to Soldier Field in Chicago for the Hockey City Classic on Feb. 7, 2015. 

Barr named assistant in K'Zoo

Ben Barr named associate head coach at Western Michigan.

Bulldogs play rough with Western Michigan

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Playing the No. 6-ranked team in the country is no easy task, as Ferris State found out themselves this past weekend.

The Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 decision to Western Michigan on Friday night before pulling off a shootout win in a penalty-laden series finale.

Though the Broncos earned four of six points this past weekend, losing Saturday's shootout cost them their spot atop the CCHA standings, where they currently sit a mere point behind Miami.

Western Michigan had a much easier time in the series opener, with Colton Hargrove and Trevor Elias scoring in the first 20 minutes to take a 2-1 lead.

Sandwiched between the Broncos' scores was a power-play marker by Ferris State's Garrett Thompson, whose shot ricocheted off the crossbar before landing inside the net.

It wasn't until 13:51 into the second period that Western Michigan would put the game away, this time with a goal by Dane Walters while on the man-advantage. The duo of Shane Berschbach and Chase Balisy each earned helpers on that play.

Bulldogs' netminder C.J. Motte had 25 saves in the losing effort, while Frank Slubowski finished with 15 stops.

Emotions spilled over into the following night, as 33 penalties were assessed for 115 minutes amongst the two teams, with 16 calls coming in the third period alone.

Senior forward Matthew Kirzinger put Ferris State on the board first with a slap shot from the blue line at the 14:47 mark of the opening frame.

After a scoreless second period, action picked-up in the third, but not before a scrum between both sides occurred with 3:28 elapsed.

Four Bulldogs and three Broncos were pulled aside by officials, with Ferris State freshman Dakota Kletcha earning a game disqualification for contact to the head during the melee.

When play resumed, Western Michigan was able to turn the tides shortly thereafter by netting a pair of goals within a 23-second span, courtesy of Dennis Brown and Mike Leone.

In the final minute of regulation, Ferris State pulled Motte in favor of an extra attacker, resulting in senior forward and captain Kyle Bonis' game-tying goal from the left circle to force the extra session.

With neither squad able to light the lamp in overtime, it went to a shootout where the Bulldogs outscored their counterparts 2-1.

Cory Kane and Bonis were the scorers for Ferris State, while Leone had the Broncos' lone tally.

Slubowski held a narrow edge over Motte in the saves department, 25-23.

Western Michigan (17-6-5 overall, 13-4-3-1 CCHA) plays host to Miami this weekend in a fight for first place amongst the CCHA standings, while Ferris State (13-11-4 overall, 11-9-2-1 CCHA) heads to the Upper Peninsula for a two-game slate against Northern Michigan.

Bulldogs swept on the road by Western

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

In a series pitting two of the nation's top 25 teams against one another, Western Michigan toppled Ferris State on consecutive nights to secure third place in the CCHA standings.

Action picked-up in Friday's contest late in the first period, when senior forward Mike Leone finished off a pass from Ben Warda and Dan DeKeyser to beat Bulldogs' goaltender C.J. Motte with less than six minutes remaining.

The lead wouldn't last long however, as junior forward Garrett Thompson countered at the 17:01 mark for his fifth goal of the season. Earning helpers on that play were sophomores T.J. Schlueter and Jason Binkley.

In the ensuing frame, all three goals scores would come via the power play, beginning with the Broncos' Dane Walters just past the midway point.

Though Ferris State evened-up the score on a Travis Ouellette lamp-lighter minutes later, Walters would restore Western's lead with the game-winning tally with 1:57 to go in the period.

Freshman defenseman Kenny Morrison added an insurance goal 57 seconds into the third to secure a Western victory in the opener.

The tandem of juniors Chase Balisy and Shane Berschbach each tallied two assists apiece for the Broncos.

Motte stopped 28 shots, including 12 in the second period alone.

At the other end of the ice, sophomore netminder Frank Slowbowski finished with 13 stops.

Like its previous contest, the series finale on Saturday also had a delay in the scoring department, with netiher team able to light the lamp in the first 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs struck first at 8:21 in the middle stanza on a breakaway goal from Thompson, who had just exited the penalty box. Making the tape-to-tape pass was junior forward Justin DeMartino.

Western's effective power play would come into effect once again, as Balisy and Leone each chipped in a goal late in the third to complete the sweep.

Motte accumulated 35 saves to Slubowski's 26.

Western Michigan (10-3-1 overall,7-2-1-1 CCHA) heads to Ann Arbor this Friday and Saturday night for a series against the University of Michigan, who was idle over the weekend.

Ferris State (7-6-3 overall, 6-4-1-0 CCHA) hits the road for a one-off against Michigan State on Saturday, with puck-drop scheduled for 5:05 pm.

Broncos add a pair of forwards

Western Michigan University Press Release

The nationally-ranked Western Michigan hockey program and head coach Andy Murray have announced the signing of Josh Pitt (Spencerville, Ont./Ottawa Jr. Senators, CCHL) and Colton Hargrove (Rockwall, Tex./Fargo Force, USHL) to national letters of intent.

Pitt and Hargrove join Chris Dienes (Traverse City/Cedar Rapids Rough Riders, USHL), Sheldon Dries (Macomb Township/Green Bay Gamblers, USHL), Aaron Hadley (Castlegar, B.C./Vernon Vipers, BCHL), Nolan LaPorte (Moneka, Ill./Green Bay Gamblers, USHL), Mike McKee (Newmarket, Ont./Lincoln Stars, USHL), Kenney Morrison (Loydminster, Alb./Omaha Lancers, USHL) and Kyle Novak (O’Fallon, Mo./Green Bay Gamblers, who signed with WMU during the November signing period.

Pitt, 6-foot-3 forward, played four seasons of junior hockey in the Central Canada Hockey League from 2008-12. For the majority of his career he played for the Kemptville 73's but was traded to the Ottawa Jr. Senators during his final year. He is coming off the best season on his career in which he potted 36 goals with 23 assists for 59 points in 59 games. He went on to net a goal and tally two assists in the playoffs. In his junior career he amassed 59 goals and 119 points.

“Josh is a big kid and he can really shoot the puck,” said assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Rob Facca. “He can skate and he’s a smart hockey player. He’s another guy that will come in and fill the void from the seniors. He will help create competition for ice time, which I like.”

Hargrove, another big forward at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, played two seasons of junior hockey for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. The Texas native is coming off his best season of junior hockey in which he tallied 38 points in the regular season on 16 goals and 22 assists. In two season in the USHL he tallied 65 total points.

"Colton brings size and toughness,” said Facca. “He has a really good shot and moves well for a big guy. He can really shoot it. He’s a tough, hard-nosed player and we expect him to play like that."
 
Hargrove and Pitt along with others will be tasked with WMU's departing senior class of Ian Slater, Greg Squires, J.J. Crew, Derek Roehl and Kyle O'Kane along with junior Matt Tennyson, who signed with the San Jose Sharks. Those six helped lead the Broncos to its first CCHA Tournament Title since 1986 and the second in program history.

Broncos knocked out of NCAAs by North Dakota

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

After a CCHA playoff championship and a second straight trip to the NCAA tournament, Western Michigan's season is again over prematurely after North Dakota topped WMU 3-1 Saturday afternoon at the West Regional in St. Paul, Minn.

Kyle O'Kane netted Western Michigan's lone goal in the second period and Frank Slubowski made 25 saves between the pipes.

After O'Kane's goal, the apparent tying goal was waived off as the officials ruled that the net was dislodged before the puck bounced off of captain Ian Slater and across the goal line.

Michael Parks, Corban Knight and Brock Nelson (empty-net) scored for the Sioux, while Aaron Dell finished with 24 stops in goal.

North Dakota will play the Minnesota-Boston University winner tomorrow with a berth to the Frozen Four at stake.

Western Michigan ends the season with a 21-14-6 record, the most wins since the 1995-96 season.

Stampede! Broncos capture CCHA championship

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

DETROIT - Western Michigan built a three-goal lead after two periods and then held on in the third period to beat Michigan, 3-2 Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena, taking its first CCHA tournament championship since 1986.

WMU captain Ian Slater put the Broncos ahead with a lead they would never surrender with a spinning first-period goal off a rebound from Michigan goaltender Shawn Hunwick.

Dane Walters and Chase Balisy each chipped in a goal during the second period to give Western Michigan a commanding lead after 40 minutes.

Kevin Clare grabbed third-period momentum with a nifty shorthanded effort, culminating with a slick move on eventual tournament MVP, Bronco netminder Frank Slubowski, to pull Michigan within two goals, 3-1.

Luke Moffatt's pinpoint pass to Lee Moffie while Michigan enjoyed a five-minute power play later in the third tightened the contest to 3-2, leading to a furious final few minutes.

Slubowski and the Broncos held off the Michigan onslaught to capture the title.

“It’s tough to talk after something like that,” said Western Michigan coach Andy Murray. “Your emotions. I’m just so happy for our players. This is all about them. It’s all about their commitment. All year they’ve worked extremely hard. I’ve had a lot of hard-working teams as a hockey coach, and I’m an old coach, so there’s been a lot of teams, but I’ve got a real hard-working core here. If you’ve got a good goalie, you’ve got a good chance to be a good coach. That’s the bottom line.”

“It was a night of good bounces, you know, being in the right spot, working hard, using your body to shield off the defender,” added Walters. “We got a couple good bounces and I guess that’s how it goes sometimes.”

Photo/CCHA

Broncos beat RedHawks, to play for Mason Cup

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

DETROIT - Western Michigan continued its workman-like trip through the CCHA championship playoffs with an efficient 6-2 win over Miami in the tourney semi-finals at Joe Louis Arena late Friday afternoon.

The Broncos dismissed Lake Superior State in two games last weekend to earn their spot in the final weekend playdown and gave the RedHawks similar treatment, dominating Miami from start to finish.

Greg Squires and Will Kessel each scored a pair for the Broncos, with Squires earning his 100th career point in the process, and Frank Slubowski added his usual steady performance in goal.

“They are expected to score,” said WMU coach Andy Murray of Squires' and Kessel's two-goal games. “To be successful, you need all of your units. We’re a four-line team. We play everybody. Everybody has the same mission out there. Last weekend, it was the same thing.”

The win punches Western Michigan's ticket for a spot in the CCHA playoff final against Michigan on Saturday night.

“Tonight was one of those games where the puck was going in the net,” Squires said. “We were fortunate to get six tonight. This is huge for us. Not just for myself, but for the team. We talked about where we came from, but like Coach (Murray) said, we have more tomorrow. Then, we’ll be happy.”

In Murray's estimation, the quick start provided by Squires two early goals and one more of the shorthanded variety by J.J. Crew were crucial to the win.

“I thought it was important because I watched a tape of Miami against Michigan State and Michigan State was down after 11 seconds in the hockey game,” said Murray of the Broncos' early lead. “We knew that it would be imperative to get off to a strong start.”

Broncos sweep Lake Superior to reach the Joe

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

Western Michigan swept a game Lake Superior State squad in two straight contests last weekend at Lawson Ice Arena and will venture to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA semifinals for the second consecutive season.

"We're pretty excited," said WMU coach Andy Murray. "There's four teams from the CCHA left that have a chance to win the championship, and we're one of them, so that's gratifying."

Friday night, the Broncos skated to a 4-2 win and then sealed the deal with a 5-2 victory the following evening.

"Our guys were very determined," Murray said Saturday night. "We thought we needed to play better than we played last night. We challenged our guys today. The first thing we did at our meeting here this morning was I asked everybody who in the room thought they could play better tonight than they played last night, or could be better than they were last night. I put my hand up and everybody else put their hand up as well. We all needed to be better and I thought we were tonight."

WMU captain Ian Slater scored twice and Mike Leone had a goal and an assist Friday night, while goalie Frank Slubowski needed to make just 20 saves. Dane Walters notched the other goal.

Zach Sternberg and Colin Campbell scored for LSSU, who got a 29-save outing from Kevin Kapalka.

Saturday night, Kyle O'Kane tallied twice and Leone and Dan DeKeyser each registered two assists for the Broncos. Matt Tennyson had a goal plus a helper, while Slater and Luke Witkowski scored other goals in the win.

Slubowski made 27 saves, compared to Kapalka's 35 stops.

Campbell and Zach Trotman scored for the Lakers, whose season is more than likely over as an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament seems unlikely.

The Broncos will play in the first semifinal Friday night at the Joe, taking on Miami at 4:35 p.m.

WMU leads CCHA All-Rookie Team picks

CCHA Press Release

Four schools had one student-athlete named to the 2012 CCHA All-Rookie Team, with Western Michigan boasting two selections.

This marks the 24th year that the conference has named an all-rookie team.

Sixteen freshmen garnered at least one vote.

Determined by a vote of the conference’s head coaches, the team will be honored at the 2012 CCHA Awards on Thursday, March 15, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

Austin Czarnik, a 19-year-old forward from Washington and Miami University, was a three-time CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week recipient as well as the league’s November Gongshow Rookie of the Month. Czarnik was first among CCHA rookies overall with 20 assists and second in points with 29. He finished tied for fifth place in the league with +19.

Alex Guptill, a 20-year-old forward from Newmarket, Ont., and the University of Michigan, led the Wolverines and all CCHA freshmen in scoring in both conference play (13-12-25) and overall (16-15-31). A draft pick of the Dallas Stars, Guptill’s 25 points puts him in a three-way for sixth-place in the conference. He was a two-time CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week recipient, the league’s January Gongshow Rookie of the Month and the only freshman to be named the CCHA Postgame Offensive Player of the Week.

Max McCormick, a 19-year-old forward from De Pere, Wis., and The Ohio State University, finished second in the rookie scoring race with 10 goals and 20 points in conference action despite missing six games due to injury. An Ottawa Senators draft pick, McCormick was a two-time CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week and his 20 league points tied him with sophomore forward Chris Crane for the team lead.

Garrett Haar, an 18-year-old defenseman from Huntington Beach, Calif., and Western Michigan University, consistently played in the Broncos top two defensive pairs. The Washington Capitals draft pick was +6 on the season, +2 in league play, and was named the CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week on Oct. 24.

Robbie Russo, a 19-year-old defenseman from Westmont, Ill., and the University of Notre Dame, scored four goals and added 10 assists in 36 games to lead all rookie defensemen. The New York Islanders draft pick scored all four of his goals on the power play against CCHA opponents and his 12 power-play points overall led all Irish defensemen.

Frank Slubowski, a 21-year-old goaltender from Prince Rupert, B.C., and Western Michigan University, posted a 2.03 goals-against average, third-best in league play. Slubowski, the only unanimous selection on the All-Rookie Team, shined particularly bright in the final month of the season, posting a 1.87 GAA and .917 save percentage en route to earning February CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Month honors. He was named CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week on Jan. 16 and his 12 conference wins were good for third place in the league.

Honorable mentions: Forwards — Matt Berry, MSU; Phil Di Giuseppe, UM; Ryan Dzingel, OSU; Jimmy Mullin, MIA; Defensemen — Jake Baker, NMU; Jason Binkley, FSU; Kevin Czuczman, LSSU; Simon Denis, FSU; Al McLean, OSU; Goaltender — C.J. Motte, FSU.

Ferris State clinches CCHA regular season title

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Western Michigan (the geographic region, not the university) shared two of the CCHA's top teams in Ferris State and Western Michigan (the university) this season.

Fittingly, the regular season's final weekend series matched the Bulldogs and the Broncos with top spot in the conference at stake.

Ferris State removed all doubt Friday night in the series opener with a 1-1 draw that Western Michigan eventually won in the tiebreaker. The Bulldogs were the real winner, however, as the tie clinched the regular season championship for Ferris State.

Greg Squires score the only goal in the shootout to clinch an extra point for the Broncos.

Jordie Johnston, for Ferris State, and Shane Berschbach, for Western Michigan, had the game's only regulation time scores.

“The fans certainly got their money’s worth tonight,” WMU head coach Andy Murray told mlive.com on Friday. “It was an exciting hockey game. I thought the officials did a good job of letting the players play the game. It was physical. On the first shift (of the game), there must have been four or five big hits. Both teams battled and both teams wanted the points. It was a great game for everybody to watch and it was certainly nice to see a senior get the shootout goal.”

Danny Dekeyser's two goals and Frank Slubowski's shutout performance led the Broncos to a Saturday night 3-0 win in the regular season finale for both teams.

“I don't think tonight's a night to worry about,” Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels told USCHO. “We had enough opportunities to score, but their goaltender (Slubowski) deserves a lot of credit. He played a great game.”

Both Ferris State and Western Michigan earn first round CCHA playoff byes by virtue of their finish in the top five in the conference. The Bulldogs and Broncos will both host second round playoff series starting on Friday, March 2.

Photo/Ferris State Athletics

Western Michigan splits with Ohio State

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

When you're battling for the top spot in the CCHA conference standings, you simply can't afford to tread water.

Western Michigan split a home two-game series with struggling Ohio State, winning the Friday night match-up in overtime, 3-2, but fell to the Buckeyes in Saturday's series finale, 4-3, slipping three points further behind first-place Ferris State, who fashioned a series sweep against Notre Dame over the weekend.

The Broncos have accumulated 42 conference points, one ahead of third place Michigan and five less than top (Bull)dog Ferris State.

Dane Walters was the overtime hero for Western Michigan, beating Buckeye netminder Cal Heeter 3:20 into the overtime frame on the first shot the Broncos were able to direct Heeter's way in extra time.

“To tell you the truth,” started Walters about the overtime winner, “my linemates did most the work there. (Shane) Berschbach got it over to (Chase) Balisy, and Balisy pulled up, had a nice play, sent it back over to Berschbach who knocked the puck and kind of lost it. It was just laying there for me. I tried to pull it over and just put it in.”

Matt Tennyson and Kyle O'Kane provided the first two Western Michigan goals before Walters' overtime heroics.

In Saturday's 4-3 loss, Western Michigan battled back from an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead deep into the third period on goals by Chase Balisy, Will Kessel and Tennyson.

The Buckeyes' Alex Carlson beat Western Michigan goaltender Frank Slubowski twice in the game's final six minute for the Ohio State comeback win.

“Ohio State came and battled,” said Bronco head coach Andy Murray of the loss. “They played hard like they did last night. For three weekends in a row, we've found a way to be as good as we need to be on Saturday nights, and that's my responsibility. Leading by a goal with seven minutes left to go in the game, and let the lead slip away, that's my responsibility.”

Before their potentially pivotal season-ending series against Ferris State in two weeks, Western Michigan is tasked with traveling to the Sault for a two-game set with Lake Superior State this coming weekend.

Western Michigan splits home-and-home with BGSU

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Coming off a pair of road losses to Miami, a home-and-home series with Bowling Green looked like just the ticket to get Western Michigan right back into the thick of the race for the top spot in the CCHA.

The Broncos produced mixed results against Bowling Green.

On Friday, comfortably at home at Lawson Ice Arena, Western Michigan jumped to a 3-0 second period lead on a pair of goals by Dane Walters and a single by Greg Squires and coasted to a 4-1 victory over the Falcons.

“I think this was a big win for our time,” said Western Michigan head coach Andy Murray. “Coming off a couple of defeats last weekend, we need to get back on the winning track. Bowling Green wears their jerseys with pride, too. They work hard and we talked about that before the game. I reminded them of that after the second period.”

That Bowling Green pride showed up in Saturday night's rematch.

Playing at home, the Falcons responded to Squires' early first period goal with a pair of third period goals of their own to edge the Broncos, 2-1. Bowling Green netminder Andrew Hammond blanked the Broncos with 28 saves after allowing Squires' goal at 1:21 of the first period.

The weekend split left Western Michigan tied with Miami for second spot in the CCHA standings while holding two games in hand over the RedHawks. The Broncos only trail league-leading Ferris State by one point as they await the arrival of Alaska for a two-game set Friday and Saturday.

Broncos drop both games on road at Miami

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Western Michigan ran into a surging buzzsaw, Miami, in Oxford, Ohio, this weekend in dropping two straight games to the RedHawks.

Miami bagged a goal by Reilly Smith in each of the three periods and Luke Witkowski replied for the Broncos in the first period in the 3-1 opening-game win for the RedHawks.

Saturday night's 4-0 victory sounds lopsided at first glance, but Western Michigan simply couldn't break through against Miami goaltender Connor Knapp despite playing even with the RedHawks.

“We played a good team,” Western Michigan head coach Andy Murray told USCHO after the game. “We hit them at a time when they're playing very well. It's a 1-0 game in the third period. They had 10 shots on goal through two periods. To me, it's a pretty good game.

“We couldn't score on our chances. We just have to play hard. We have to finish some of our chances. We can't give up two breakaways in the third period when it's a 1-0 game.”

The losses drop Western Michigan into a second place tie in the CCHA standings with Miami.

The Broncos hit the ice again this coming weekend with a home-and-home series with Bowling Green.

Broncos sweep Notre Dame out of Lawson

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Western Michigan has faced quite the difficult scheduling stretch the past two weekends.

The Broncos' disappointment at losing a pair of home games the previous weekend against top-ranked Minnesota-Duluth was replace by the satisfaction of gaining a home sweep of third-ranked Notre Dame Friday and Saturday.

In a pair of closely-fought contests, Western Michigan used third-period goals by Chase Balisy and Kyle O'Kane for a come-from-behind 3-2 win on Friday. Balisy, Matt Tennyson and Jordan Oesterle scored a single apiece on Saturday and Frank Slubowski turned away 25 of 26 shots in a 3-1 victory.

The sweep of Notre Dame boosted the Broncos to a second place standing in the CCHA, only one point behind first-place Ohio State and four points ahead of third-place Michigan.

Western Michigan holds two games in hand on both the Buckeyes and the Wolverines.

The weekend sweep and the Broncos' 12-7-5 record was enough to earn Western Michigan eighth place in the latest USCHO.com national rankings.

Western Michigan looks to continue its winning ways and press toward the top spot in the CCHA in next weekend's trip to Oxford, Ohio, taking on reigning CCHA champ Miami in a two-game series.

Western Michigan splits at St. Cloud State

By Bob Miller/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Western Michigan was barely able to eke out a split in their road series at St. Cloud State on Friday with an overtime 2-1 win.

The Broncos fell to St. Cloud 4-2 in Thursday night's series opener.

Chase Balisy was the hero for Western Michigan in the overtime victory, bagging the winner only 41 seconds into extra time.

Matt Tennyson had staked the Broncos to an initial lead midway through the first period, but St. Cloud got the equalizer in the middle period. Both regulation time goals were scored on the power play.

“We're not a pretty team,” Western Michigan head coach Andy Murray told USCHO after the Broncos' win on Friday. “We play pretty hard, though. We should have won last night going away, but we didn't score on our chances.”

Those chances in Thursday's loss referred to by Murray took the form of 31 shots that the Broncos directed toward Ryan Faragher in the St. Cloud net.

Only two of those 31 shots found the back of the net for Western Michigan. J.J. Crew in the first period and Shane Berschbach in the second period provided the firepower for the Broncos, staking them to a 2-1 lead heading into the final 20 minutes.

St. Cloud's Jared Festler solved Frank Slubowski in the Bronco net twice in the third period and the Huskies added an empty-net goal for the 4-2 win.

Western Michigan continues their holiday 'tour de WCHA this coming weekend,' hosting reigning national champion Minnesota-Duluth for a non-conference two-game series.