**-Lawson Arena–Kalamazoo, MI**

Head Coach Pat Ferschweiler’s top 5-ranked Broncos won last Friday, the first of 2 games vs North Dakota Friday night at Lawson. It was Senior Night weekend but most importantly, the club secured their first ever NCHC’s regular season championship and Penrose Cup that accompanies it, followed by the outright title come Saturday, in an OT defeat. In his 5th season, Coach Ferschweiler’s squad is a power in the NCAA Hockey landscape, elevating his Broncos to expected NCAA Tournament regulars. WMU will use their final regular season matchup at Miami (OH) to fine tune, get healthy and prepare for the NCHC tournament and then the NCAA tournament.

The Broncos head into the weekend finale at 24-7-1 (17-4-1) with a sparkling 14-2-1 home record while 9-4-0 on the road with 1-1 neutral record and account for a 9-5-1 record (3-2 in OT) against ranked teams (year to date) having faced Michigan State, Michigan, Denver, Boston College, Colorado College, UND (x2 series), Nebraska Omaha and Arizona State. In those contests, WMU sports a 3.25 goals/game average and a +13-scoring margin.

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Claiming its first Penrose Cup, Western Michigan finding success heading to playoffs with ‘a consistency of play and competitiveness of our players’ – https://t.co/Yuy3UjPG2L pic.twitter.com/1dvDUkob6o

— USCHO.com (@USCHO) March 5, 2025

The group is led in points by #20 Alex Bump (So-F) with 36 points, Owen Michaels (So-F) at 27 points, Grant Slukynsky (So-F) totaling 26 points and Samuel Sjolund (Jr-D) currently at 25 points. As a team, they’ve almost doubled their opponent’s output (121 to 66 goals) and have a solid 3.8 GPG average while holding the opposition to a paltry 2.1 GAA. The power play has a +15% margin between their penalty kill (25% PP to 90% PK) and pour in almost 10 more shots per game. Additionally, their face off numbers is almost +10% as well, carrying a .547 win % vs. .453% for their opponents.

Taking a look at their goalie situation; Cameron Rowe (Grad Student- Wisconsin), who many see as 1A to Hampton Slukynsky (Freshman), has only allowed 3+ goals 5 times all year with only 2 coming against non-ranked teams (MI Tech and Miami OH). Rowe is 15-2-0 with an incredible 2.00 GAA, .924 save % and has allowed only 4 power play goals all season. Rowe has also been nominated for NCHC goalie of the week several times, including a pair of NCHC Goalie of the Month honors. Hampton is just as sparkling with a 9-5-1 record, .926 save % and also has only allowed 4 power play goals and an even slightly better, 1.97 GAA. His future looks bright to take over as the true #1 in 2025-2026.

#5 WMU looks to continue their hot season and earn a #1 seed come NCAA Tournament Selection time and have floated between 2nd and 8th for majority of 2025, right behind their in-state rival and co-Big Ten champion, Michigan State. Stay tuned as we will follow the Broncos into both tournaments and provide post-game breakdowns as well as their region come NCAA Selection time.