KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team won its sixth-straight home gave after completing the sweep of Rensselaer with a 6-2 win on Saturday night.
Senior defenseman Cam Lee had two goals and an assist for a three-point night and was joined by sophomore forward Drew Worrad, who had three assists to lead the Broncos (14-10-2, 8-6-2-2 NCHC). WMU also picked up goals from Ethen Frank, Lawton Courtnall, Austin Rueschhoff and Jason Polin. Freshman goalie Brandon Bussi made 21 saves, including 13 in the second period, to pick up his 14th win of the season.
It was RPI that took the early lead, scoring at 4:06 in the first period. After a turnover in the Western Michigan zone Mason Klee ripped a shot toward the net that was deflected in by Leppanen Ottoville.
WMU responded with a goal from Frank at 14:08. Worrad fed the junior forward the puck at the left edge of the right circle. Frank skated through the slot and back-handed it into the top-left corner of the net and past reigning ECAC Goalie of the Month Owen Savory. Worrad picked up his first assist of the night and eighth on the season, while junior forward Josh Passolt also tallied a helper, his 11th of the season.
The teams went into the locker room tied up at 1-1 after the first period but the Broncos exploded for three goals in the first 3:44 of the second period. Lee got the goal avalanche started just 48 seconds into the period. Rueschhoff dispossessed an Engineer forward on the left side of the boards, directing the puck to Lee. Lee threw a shot on net from the far left point and it found its way through traffic and into the top-right corner of the net for his first goal of the season.
At 2:26 Courtnall fired a blast past Savory from the left circle to push WMU's lead to 3-1. Worrad picked up the puck from Michael Joyaux and skated into the neutral zone. Worrad threaded the needle to Courtnall on the left side of the ice and the senior forward finished it for his fifth goal of the season. The assist was Worrad's ninth of the season and Joyaux's 14th.
Rueschhoff scored on the power play at 3:44 to put the Broncos up 4-1 on his eighth goal of the season. Bussi settled the puck in the Western Michigan zone and passed it off to Lee. Lee found Rueschhoff behind the RPI defense and sprung him for a breakaway. Lee picked up his 10th assist of the season and fourth point of the weekend and Bussi earned his second career assist on the goal.
Rensselaer cut the lead to 4-2 on a power play goal at 14:22 in the second period. Todd Burgess picked up the puck after Patrick Polino won a battle behind the net and skated out to the front-right edge of the left circle and put it in the net for his seventh goal of the season.
Lee put the game to bed with his second of the night at 16:28 on the power play. Luke Bafia chipped the puck back to Lee at the top of the left circle. Lee spun to create some space and ripped a shot into the top-left corner of the net. Bafia picked up his seventh assist of the season on the goal and Hugh McGing tallied his 20th.
Polin scored after Worrad won a draw to him in the RPI zone, skating through the slot and punching it into the net for his fourth goal of the season. Worrad picked up his career-high third assist of the night as WMU pushed ahead 6-2.
The Broncos outshot the Engineers 35-23 overall and finished 2-for-4 on the power play.
Western Michigan heads back out on the road and resumes National Collegiate Hockey Conference play next Friday and Saturday at rival Miami. Both games are at 7:05 p.m. and will be carried on NCHC.tv and the Bronco Radio Network.
#WeWillReign
