DETROIT -- In their first CCHA Championship appearance in 25 years, Western Michigan University's hockey team fought back from a two-goal deficit to tie Miami in the third period, but ultimately fell 5-2 after a late surge by the Redhawks at Joe Louis Arena.
Despite trailing 2-0 after the first period, the Broncos were able to fight their way back into the contest with goals by Mike Leone and Dane Walters to tie the score early in the third period. However, three goals by Miami over the game's final 12 minutes proved to be the difference. Jerry Kuhn made 30 saves in net for the Broncos, while Shane Berschbach added an assist for a three-point weekend. With the victory, Miami earned its first CCHA Championship in school history.
Miami was led by two goals from Reilly Smith, while Andy Miele, Curtis McKenzie and Bryon Paulazzo added goals for the Redhawks. Cody Reichard made 14 saves to earn the victory in net.
Midway through the first period, Miami opened up the scoring just as a power play expired. Paulazzo tucked a rebound off a long shot past Kuhn for his third goal of the season. Cameron Schilling and Alden Hirschfield picked up the assists on the goal, which came at the 12:03 mark.
The Redhawks struck again in the closing minutes of the period, this time on the power play. Again, a shot from the point resulted in a rebound that ended up on the stick of Reilly Smith for his 27th goal of the season and a 2-0 Redhawk lead at the 18:53 mark. Pat Cannone and Carter Camper picked up the assists on the goal.
The Broncos had a golden opportunity to put a dent in the Redhawk lead in the opening minutes of the second period but a Walters shot ricocheted off the crossbar. The Broncos followed that up with a power play opportunity, but were unable to push one across the line despite several scoring chances.
WMU kept up the pressure to earn another power play late in the period and were able to break through to cut the Miami lead to 2-1. With the Broncos on the man-advantage, Dan DeKeyser swung the puck to Greg Squires for a slapshot from the point. Leone, continuing his solid work in front of the net from the semifinal contest, redirected the shot past Reichard for his sixth goal of the season and second in as many nights. The goal, which came at the 18:22 mark, gave Leone three points on the weekend.
Early in the third period, WMU got another power play chance and the Bronco power play kept rolling. Berschbach chased down a loose-puck in the corner and found Walters between the circles for a wrist-shot. This time, the sophomore connected, sneaking the puck in under the crossbar at the 2:38 mark for his ninth goal of the season and second in as many nights. Matt Tennyson also picked up an assist on the power play goal, the Broncos fifth on the weekend.
However, the Redhawks were able to answer at the 8:13 mark on a delayed penalty. CCHA leading scorer Miele tipped in a shot from the point by Schilling to give the Redhawks a 3-2 advantage. The goal was the 24th of the season for Miele. Smith also picked up an assist on the goal.
On the ensuing power play, the Redhawks capitalized again, this time on a rebound by Curtis McKenzie. The goal, which came at the 10:10 mark gave the Redhawks its two-goal lead back and was the seventh of the season for McKenzie. Cannone and Chris Wideman picked up the assists.
Smith added another goal, his second of the night, in the closing minutes for the Redhawks for the final margin. Miami outshot the Broncos 35-16.
Walters and DeKeyser both earned CCHA All-Tournament recognition for their efforts on the weekend. Walters totaled two goals and an assist on the weekend, while DeKeyser contributed two assists and helped shutdown Michigan's high-powered offense.
WMU (19-12-10) will tune in to the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday morning at 11:30 a.m. on ESPN2 to find out if it will receive an at-large bid to the tournament. If WMU receives an at-large bid, they could play again as early as Friday, March 25.
