KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Ethen Frank scored twice in the third period, including the game-winning goal with 1:26 to play as the 10th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team defeated No. 4/3 Minnesota-Duluth, 4-3, at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
With the game tied at 3-3 Brandon Bussi made a save and Frank punched the rebound out of the slot and it bounced out to center ice. It was off to the races and senior forward Drew Worrad got to the puck to tap it over to Frank as he entered the UMD zone. Frank skated in on Bulldog goalie Ryan Fanti and slipped it between his legs for his eighth goal of the season. Worrad picked up his team-leading 10th assist and his third of the game.
Western Michigan (6-1-0, 1-0-0 NCHC) also picked up goals from Michael Joyaux and Josh Passolt. Bussi made 26 saves in his sixth win of the season. The Broncos were outshot for the first time this season, with Minnesota-Duluth edging them 30-24. WMU finished 1-for-4 on the power play and held UMD scoreless on four chances, including a five-minute major.
WMU took the lead early in the first period on a power play goal by Joyaux. Frank cycled the puck to Worrad and Worrad found Joyaux open at the center slot. The senior defenseman fired one past Fanti in to the top-right corner of the net for his first goal of the season. The goal ended a two-game power play tally drought for Western Michigan. Worrad tallied his eighth assist of the season on the goal and Frank picked up his fourth.
Passolt's first goal of the season at 2:02 in the second period extended WMU's lead to 2-0. Luke Grainger won a faceoff to Passolt on the right wall in the UMD zone. The fifth-year senior then weaved through traffic and through the slot to punch it in. Grainger picked up his second assist of the season on the goal.
Minnesota-Duluth scored two goals in quick succession late in the second period. After WMU had killed off a five-minute major power play and a two-minute power play directly after Kyler Kleven scored his first career goal to cut the lead in half at 14:18. Casey Gilling scored from the right circle minutes later at 17:29 to tie the game up at 2-2.
Frank put the Broncos back ahead on a short-handed goal just 38 seconds into the third period. Worrad poked the puck away from a UMD defenseman near the WMU blue line and Ronnie Attard pushed it up to Frank and the Papillion, Neb., native took off down the ice. He skated in on Fanti and put it past him for his seventh goal of the season. Worrad tallied his ninth assist, while Attard picked up his fifth and extended his point streak to three games. Frank's big night also extended his point streak to a career-high seven games.
Tanner Laderoute scored from the left circle at 5:45 in the third period to tie it up after Carter Loney created a turnover in the WMU zone.
The two teams go back at it again on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets. The game is also available live on NCHC.tv and the Bronco Radio Network.
