KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team picked up its first victory of the season and first win for new head coach Pat Ferschweiler after taking down Ferris State, 4-0, in front of 3,669 fans at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
The Broncos (1-0-0) picked up two goals from fifth-year senior Ethen Frank and tallies from Drew Worrad and Paul Washe. Frank added an assist for a three-point game, while Worrad also had an assist. Senior defenseman Michael Joyaux had a game-high two assists.
Junior goalie Brandon Bussi earned his first career shutout after making 21 saves on the night. WMU outshot FSU 35-21 and went two-for-six on the power play.
Washe gave Western Michigan a 1-0 lead with the eventual game-winner scored with 45.7 seconds left in the first period. Jason Polin had the puck behind the Ferris State net on the power play and found Washe in the slot and he punched it in from his knees. Josh Passolt also picked up the assist on the goal.
The Broncos struck again at 13:44 in the second period on Frank's first of the night. Joyaux played a perfect two-line stretch pass to Frank and he skated in all alone, firing a wrister into the top-right corner of the net. Cedric Fielder tallied an assist on the goal as WMU took a 2-0 lead.
WMU added another goal in the final minute of the second period with Worrad tipping in a pass from Frank from just in front of the net at with 8.7 seconds left. Cole Gallant created a turnover in the neutral zone and crossed the blue line with the Broncos outnumbering the Bulldogs in the offensive zone. Gallant passed it to Frank and he took it to the left slot before passing it down to Worrad for the redirect.
Frank put the game to bed with his second goal of the night at 8:37 in the third period. Worrad had the puck at the right point on the power play and found Frank all alone in the left circle and he blasted it into the net.
Western Michigan heads up to Big Rapids on Saturday to take on the Bulldogs at 7:07 p.m. The game can be heard live on the Bronco Radio Network on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM
