LAS VEGAS – The 17th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team extended its unbeaten streak to eight games after defeating Air Force, 4-1, to win the 2019 Ice Vegas Invitational at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

Ethen Frank scored twice and the Broncos (11-6-1) also picked up goals from Luke Bafia and Lawton Courtnall on the night. Bafia and Frank were both named to the All-Tournament team while Trevor Gorsuch was named the Ice Vegas Invitational Most Valuable Player after making 24 saves on the night and allowing just two goals on the weekend.

WMU outshot the Falcons 43-25 on the night but were held 0-for-6 on the power play. Western Michigan's penalty kill finished the night 4-for-5.

Bafia's second goal of the season and the tournament gave the Broncos a 1-0 lead at 15:03 in the first period. WMU was pressing the Falcons in their zone and Bafia came in as a trailer off a line change. Austin Rueschhoff dished it off to the junior defenseman and he ripped it into the net from between the deep slot. Rueschhoff tallied his eighth assist of the season and Cam Lee picked up his 10th.

WMU opened the second period taking a 2-0 lead on a goal by Frank at 2:11. Hugh McGing played it up to Frank and a 2-on-1 rush developed. Frank made some quick moves with his stick and slid the puck into the net for his seventh of the season. McGing tallied his seventh helper on the goal and first point of the weekend.

Air Force pegged one back during a 5-on-3 power play. Matt Koch fired a shot from the top of the right circle and it deflected off a skate of a Bronco and into the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.

Late in the third period the Falcons pulled goalie Billy Christopoulos to gain the extra attacker. McGing blocked a shot and slid the puck to Frank. Frank fired it down from his own end and into the net for his eight goal of the season and second of the night at 17:51.

WMU pushed the lead to 4-1 on another empty-net goal, this time by Courtnall at 19:26 from center ice.

Western Michigan returns back home to host National Collegiate Hockey Conference rival Miami on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game will be live on CBS Sports Network, while Saturday's can be seen on NCHC.tv. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.