OMAHA, Neb. – The Western Michigan hockey team opened the 2020-21 season with a tough, 4-3, loss against St. Cloud State in the National Collegiate Hockey Pod at Baxter Arena in Omaha, Neb., late Tuesday night.
The game was deadlocked at 3-3 until Nick Perbix fired a shot on goal that was saved by Austin Cain. The rebound popped up in the air but was accidently knocked in by WMU's Josh Passolt in an attempt to clear it.
The Broncos had a 3-2 lead going into the third period but Kyler Kupka tied it up on his first career goal at 13:40 in the period after driving the slot from the right circle and putting it past Cain.
WMU was trailing late in the second period before scoring two goals in the final two minutes to take a 3-2 lead. The first goal came at 18:37 on Scooter Brickey's first collegiate goal. Luke Grainger created a turnover in the WMU zone and Passolt and Brickey were off on a two-on-one. Passolt flipped it to Brickey and he fired it from the left circle. The puck was initially stopped by SCSU goalie David Hrenak but it trickled past him and into the net to tie it up at 2-2.
At 19:28 Jason Polin netted his first goal of the season. Polin got the puck from Paul Washe on the left boards and took it to the net to beat Hrenak. Washe picked up his first of the season and Aidan Fulp also picked up his first collegiate point with an assist.
The Huskies took a very early 1-0 lead, scoring just 2:36 into the game on a shot by Kevin Fitzgerald. Nick Perbix connected with Fitzgerald on a long pass that sprung him behind the WMU defenseman for the goal.
The Broncos tied it up at 6:18 on Brett Van Os' first goal of the season. Jamie Rome fired a shot toward the net from the left circle and the puck was deflected behind the net and to Van Os to the right. Van Os threw a back-hander toward the net and in.
St. Cloud State outshot Western Michigan 27-24 on the night, with an 11-5 edge in the third period. The Broncos were held scoreless on three power plays.
WMU is back in action on Thursday night against Omaha at 8:35 p.m.
