GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Western Michigan hockey team earned swept North Dakota in Grand Forks for the first time in program history after a 6-2 thrashing of the 11th ranked Fighting Hawks on Saturday night.
Colt Conrad had a game-high five points on one goal and four assists to lead the team, marking the first time a Bronco has reached five points since Justin Kovacs tallied five assists in a win over Union on Nov. 29, 2014. Senior captain Corey Schueneman had a goal and two assists, while Wade Allison, Josh Passolt and Austin Rueschhoff each had two points on the night. Trevor Gorsuch made 30 saves on the night to earn his fourth win.
The Fighting Hawks took an early 1-0 lead on their first goal of the series. Jasper Weatherby punched in a rebound on a shot by Gabe Bast on the power play for his first collegiate goal at 6:17 in the first period.
Western Michigan (6-6-0, 3-3-0 NCHC) responded at 13:10 on Conrad's fifth goal of the season and second of the weekend. Freshman forward Rhett Kingston jammed a shot on net from the left of the crease. The puck bounced around the crease and out to Conrad and he lifted it into the net to tie it up at 1-1. The assist was the first collegiate point for Kingston.
After ending the first period tied at 1-1, the Broncos exploded in the second period for three goals. Schueneman gave WMU a 2-1 lead after a shot from the right circle got past starting UND goalie Adam Scheel. Conrad won the draw to Allison and Allison faked a shot before dishing it off to Schueneman. The defenseman fired a shot but snapped his stick in the process. Scheel got a piece of the shot but not enough as it trickled past him and into the net for Schueneman's first goal of the season at 8:05.
Allison tallied on the power play from the right circle for his second goal of the season for the eventual game-winner, giving WMU a 3-1 lead. Schueneman and Conrad each picked up assists on the power play goal that snapped an 0-for-14 drought with the man advantage.
Minutes later at 13:53 Passolt netted his first of two straight goals to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead. Passolt got the puck from Rueschhoff and faked a UND player before firing a laser past Scheel for his sixth goal of the season. North Dakota then pulled Scheel and inserted Peter Thome into net.
Passolt struck again just 3:23 into the third period to push the lead to 5-1, finishing off a two-on-one feed from Conrad. Rueschhoff also picked up his second assist on the night on the goal.
Hugh McGing put the game out of reach on a goal during a 5-on-3 power play to push the lead to 6-1. Schueneman found him alone in the right circle and he fired it past Thome for his sixth of the season. Conrad picked up his fourth assist of the night on the goal.
Rhett Gardner added a power play goal with 11 seconds left in the game to cut the lead to 6-4.
Western Michigan is off for the Thanksgiving weekend and returns to action at Lawson Ice Arena on Nov. 29 and Dec. 1 as Niagara comes to town. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at wmubroncos.com/tickets.
