COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Michigan junior Michael Joyaux has been named BAUER National Collegiate Hockey Associate Defenseman of the Week for his performance in WMU's split at No. 4/5 St. Cloud State over the weekend.
 
The Broncos had a rough outing to open the weekend, falling 5-1 to the Huskies but on Saturday WMU rebounded to win 5-4 in overtime and Joyaux made NCHC history. The Bloomingdale, Ill., native became the first defenseman in NCHC history to tally a hat trick.
 
Joyaux's first goal tied it up at 1-1 at 11:43 in the first period. SCSU had just taken the lead and the Broncos responded 51 seconds later when Ethen Frank and Joyaux had a 2-on-0 rush and Frank dished it off at the last minute for Joyaux to put it in the net, scoring his second goal of the season. His second goal came at 7:46 in the second period to give Western Michigan 3-2 lead. Cole Gallant won a puck battle on the left boards down hear the goal line and fired a pass through traffic to Joyaux, who jumped up into play and tapped it in at the back door. The historic goal came with 18 seconds left to tie it up at 4-4. WMU had pulled Austin Cain from net for the extra attacker. Sophomore defenseman Ronnie Attard fired a shot that went wide. The rebound went around the net and kicked out to Gallant. Gallant then found Joyaux at the top of the right circle. Joyaux fired a low wrist shot through traffic into the back of the net to send the game to overtime.
 
 Joyaux had six shots on the night and finished with a +2 plus/minus. The game pushed his season goal total to four, a new career high.
 
Western Michigan is back in action this weekend against No. 4 Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday at Lawson Ice Arena. Friday's game starts at 6:05 p.m. and Saturday's at 4:05 p.m. Both can be seen live on NCHC.tv.