KALAMZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team extended its winning streak to four games and unbeaten streak to five after a 6-2 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday night at Lawson Ice Arena.
The win completed the first sweep of the Huskies in program history. Sophomore defenseman Michael Joyaux had a career-high three points with two goals and an assists. Freshman defenseman Ronnie Attard had two points on a goal and an assist, while senior captain Hugh McGing had another two-point night with two assists. Wade Allison, Dawson DiPietro and Josh Passolt also tallied goals on the night for the Broncos (11-9-4. 7-5-2-2 NCHC), with freshman goalie Brandon Bussi making 25 saves to pick up his 11th win on the season.
Just like Friday night, the Broncos jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Attard scored on an early power play at 2:47, rifling a one-timer into the top-left corner of the net on a pass from Joyaux to give WMU the 1-0 lead. Paul Washe also picked up an assist on the goal.
SCSU's Micah Miller was given a penalty for boarding at 12:14 and the Huskies' bench was given a bench minor, resulting in a 5-on-3 for two full minutes. Joyaux netted his first of the season and the game on the 5-on-3, blasting it from the right circle off a pass from McGing.
Allison scored his fifth goal of the season on the ensuing 5-on-4 power play, firing a shot past starting goalie Jaxon Castor from the left circle. McGing picked up his second assist of the night and Cam Lee tallied his second helper of the weekend as Allison pushed his goal-scoring streak to four games at 14:05.
Jake Wahlin punched in a rebound on a shot by Nick Poehling to cut WMU's lead to 3-1 at 16:02 in the first period.
Dawson DiPietro pushed the lead to 4-1 after a breakaway goal at 18:55 in the period. A SCSU defender mishandled the puck at the WMU blue line and DiPietro pounced on the loose puck, passing it forward to himself to gain space for the breakaway and his eighth goal of the season.
Eason Brodzinski scored at 1:56 in the second period to cut the lead to 4-2.
After heading into the third period with a two-goal lead, the Broncos pushed further ahead on Joyaux's second of the night at 3:58 in the third. Rhett Kingston skated through the slot to attempt a shot but it was deflected back to Joyaux in the slot and he buried it into the right-side of the net. Kingston picked up his sixth assist of the season on the goal and Jared Kucharek also picked up a helper, his third.
Passolt put the game to bed at 8:13 in the third. Drew Worrad created a turnover in the St. Cloud State zone with an aggressive fore-check, pushing the puck to Passolt in the right circle. Passolt faked a shot and went around the SCSU defender that went down to block his shot, firing it between David Hrenak's legs. Hrenak came in for Castor after WMU went up 3-0 in the first period.
Western Michigan heads to Omaha to take on the Mavericks on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is at 8:37 p.m. and will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Saturday' game will be streamed on NCHC.tv, with both games also covered by the Bronco Radio Network.
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