Broncos Eliminate Pioneers to Advance to First-Ever NCAA Championship

**ENTERPRISE CENTER- St. Louis, MO**

One. More. Game. From NCHC regular season (1st time) and tournament champions in 2025, WMU is a single game away from the trifecta sweep and stamping their program as a Division 1 powerhouse.

WMU’s Owen Michaels ripped home his second goal of the game inside first minute of 2OT Thursday night in the first semifinal contest at the NCAAH Frozen Four sending the Broncos to their first ever, NCAA Championship game in program history. This marked the 3rd overtime game of 4 between NCHC foes with WMU finishing with a 3-1 record, going 2-1 in OT games and winning both 2OT affairs. Needless to say, WMU has been used to this having played almost 30% of their games (12-41) with extra time and stand at 7-4-1.

The opening period saw Western Michigan, in their home whites, rip off to an incredible start including a pair of open net looks in the first 120 seconds including one off the crossbar by Zach Mehring that had the entire crowd “oohhing”. This had the Lawson Lunatics and Bronco fans buzzing and cheering early and often. WMU peppered Pioneers netminder Matt Davis and the defending national champs were playing defensive the entire period, barely registering 5 shots on net while WMU doubled their total and then some. However, despite the scoring chances and few rush attempts, both teams entered the first intermission with only 1 power play going to WMU as DU’s Kieran Cebrian was whistled for a boarding minor at the 11:34 mark. WMU would put a few chances together, keeping the pressure on but to no avail.

As the middle frame began, WMU kept coming but their eagerness cost them at the 2:40 mark as Alex Bump went off for a 2-minute slashing minor, knocking the stick out of a Pioneer hand in the offensive zone a loose puck. This was their first test of resiliency against an also lethal power play unit that Denver has. After the penalty kill units completed their task, it was their second opportunity on the power play when Samu Salminen was taken for a holding minor at the 5:32 mark. Brian Kramer cashed in quickly at the 6:16 point, scoring the game’s first goal assisted by Tim Washe. The final 5 minutes proved entertaining as Michaels put home his first at the 14:32 tally and WMU suddenly had a commanding 2-0 lead and would hold a dominating shot total of 32-8 as well. Quickly, they were on the PK when Iiro Hakkarainen was called for hooking at the 16:22 tally which resulted in zero shots on net for the Pioneers, but WMU did have 2 quality chances on 2 shots, shorthanded. The game felt as if one more Bronco goal, could probably end any realistic chance Denver had given their familiarity.

Denver would not go away and after the first few minutes of the third, they would strike at the 6:49 clock point by Aidan Thompson, assisted by Garret Brown and Cale Ashcroft. Suddenly, the Pioneers had some momentum and certainly picked up their pace and speed putting the Broncos on their heels for virtually the rest of the period aside from 3-4 chances WMU mustered. It felt inevitable after DU killed off their third penalty by Hagen Burrows (high stick) as they kept pressuring the Broncos into turnovers and bad decisions as each team began a frantic pace mixed in with some great back checking to thwart some odd man rushes and several big hits. Sure enough, Jared Wright would at least ensure one tie would be registered as he put home the second goal at the 17:21 mark. Denver would have even 2-3 more quality chances as WMU was depleted on energy and limped into the locker room trying to regroup, recharge and refocus for yet another overtime affair.

After an OT in which Denver continued to press early, WMU enforced their will as they had the majority of the first two periods and put Denver back on their heels. Both teams exchanged scoring chances, and the referees largely let them play through some additional big hits and aggressive play that felt fair and consistent. In the end, WMU came out with all the momentum and as they did in the NCHC tournament title game, they ended it early in 2OT at only 26 seconds in when Michaels banged home the puck on a broken play, sending Bronco fans into bedlam. It was assisted by Joona Vaisanen and Matteo Costantini.

WMU outshot Denver 47-22 including 7 on the power play (1-3) and putting up 2 on the shorthand. Freshman sensation netminder Hampton Slukynsky turned 18 of the 20 shots he faced while Davis stopped 41 of 44. Boston downed Penn State, 3-1 in the second game and will face off with WMU Saturday at 7:30pm on ESPN2.