TOLEDO, Ohio – The Western Michigan hockey team opened the 2019-20 season with a 2-2 tie against No. 12/14 Ohio State to open the Ice Breaker Tournament at the Huntington Center on Friday. The Buckeyes defeated WMU in a sudden-death shootout to advance to the Ice Breaker Championship game on Saturday.
 
The 14/12th ranked Broncos (0-0-1) picked up goals from Lawton Courtnall and Brett Van Os, while goalie Brandon Bussi made 27 saves in his collegiate debut. Western Michigan outshot Ohio State 46-29 on the night but was held scoreless on five power play opportunities.
 
The Buckeyes jumped out to a very early 1-0 on a goal by Miguel Fidler just 2:11 into the game. Matt Miller had a shot take a deflection off the side of the net and bounce to Fidler for the tap-in.
 
WMU responded at 16:30 in the period on Courtnall's first of the season. Paul Washe drove to the goal and placed a shot on net that was initially saved by Tommy Nappier. The rebound kicked out into the slot and Courtnall put it in the top-left corner of the net to tie it up at 1-1. Drew Worrad also picked up an assist on the goal.
 
Van Os gave the Broncos the lead at 11:59 in the second period. Ethen Frank played the puck to himself along the boards and then passed it up to Van Os in the slot. The junior forward redirected the pass into the net for his first goal of the season. Hugh McGing also picked up an assist on the goal.
 
WMU took a late penalty in the third and the Buckeyes capitalized on a slap shot-goal by Miller from center point to tie it
up at 2-2 with 4:24 left to go.
 
The Broncos were awarded a major power play in the overtime period but took two penalties to negate the advantage and killing off a 4-on-3 power play by OSU. Neither team took advantage of the exhibition 3-on-3 overtime before heading to the shootout.
 
OSU's Quinn Preston scored in the fifth round of the sudden death shootout to win it for Ohio State.
 
WMU will either play RIT at 5 p.m. on Saturday or Bowling Green at 8 p.m.