Men's Ice Hockey | October 05, 2019
Box Score KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team opened up the 2019-20 season with a 6-1 win over Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in its annual Border Battle exhibition game at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
WMU picked up two goals from Austin Rueschhoff, with Brett Van Oss, Ethen Frank, Jason Polin and Scooter Brickey also lighting the lamp. Frank also had an assist for a two-point night. Freshman Brandon Bussi started the game in net and made 12 saves. Senior Ben Blacker played the third period and made four saves in his 20 minutes of action.
The Broncos outshoot the Ooks 52-17 overall and racked up 15 on seven power plays.
WMU opened the scoring early after earning a power play 13 seconds into the game. Drew Worrad set up Van Os right in front of the net to give Western Michigan the very early 1-0 lead just 1:00 into the game.
Rueschhoff netted his first of his two goals at 15:16 in the first period, again on the power play. Dawson DiPietro fired a shot from the right circle that hit off of Rueschhoff. The junior forward batted the puck out of the air and into the net to push the lead to 2-0. Kale Bennett also picked up an assist on the goal.
NAIT's lone goal came at 5:33 during a Western Michigan power play. Jordan Davies cleared the puck away from NAIT's goal and up along the boards. Ryan Piche burst ahead and caught it for a breakaway, beating Bussi to cut the lead to 2-1.
Rueschhoff tallied again shortly after the Ook goal, lighting the lamp at 7:57. Jared Kucharek won a battle on the left boards and pushed the puck out to Rueschhoff. He skated to the slot and ripped a shot past Brenden Jensen to push the lead back to two goals, 3-1.
WMU took the 3-1 lead into the third period but added its fourth goal just 2:42 into the final stanza. Frank ripped a shot from the right circle over the glove of the goalie and just under the cross bar to push the lead to 4-1. Freshman defenseman Ronnie Attard and sophomore defenseman Michael Joyaux both picked up assists on the goal.
Western Michigan added late goals by Brickey at 13:02 and a power play goal by Pol at 16:38 before closing out the win.
The Broncos head to Toledo, Ohio, and the Huntington Center for the 2019 Ice Breaker. WMU opens the tournament, hosted by Bowling Green, against No. 12 Ohio State on Friday at 5 p.m.
