ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time in program history, the Western Michigan hockey team will compete for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Frozen Faceoff Championship after defeating second-seeded North Dakota, 4-2, at the Xcel Energy Center on Friday night.
WMU meets Minnesota-Duluth in the championship game on Saturday night at 8:30 on CBS Sports Network and the Bronco Media Network.
Sophomore Ty Glover led the way with two goals, with Hugh Larkin and Max Sasson also lighting the lamp in the victory. Senior forward Drew Worrad had two assists, while junior goalie Brandon Bussi made 21 saves and tied WMU Hall of Famer Bill Horn for the single-season wins record with his 25th of the campaign.
The Broncos (25-10-1) outshot the Fighting Hawks 26-23, including holding them to just six shots on goal in the third period. Western Michigan also held UND scoreless on five power plays.
North Dakota took the lead at 11:45 in the first period on a goal by Judd Caufield, finishing off a feed from Riese Gaber in front of the net for his 11th goal of the season.
WMU responded under two minutes later, tying it up on Glover's first of the night. Ronnie Attard fired a shot on net from the right point. Sasson tried to punch in the rebound but Zach Driscoll made the initial save but Glover banged in the second rebound for his seventh goal of the season. Sasson tallied his 13th assist of the season and Attard picked up his 23rd.
Western Michigan took the lead at 13:34 in the second period on Glover's second of the night. The Broncos were on the power play and Michael Joyaux fired a blast from the deep slot. Glover skated through the slot and deflected it into the net for his eighth of the season. Joyaux picked up his 24th assist and Worrad tallied his 34th and first of the night.
WMU extended the lead to 3-1 on a goal by Larkin at 19:29. The Broncos had killed off a UND power play and Larkin came out of the box, creating a turnover at the WMU blue line. He chipped it off to Worrad and the two took off down the ice. Worrad played the puck through a Fighting Hawk defenseman to Larkin on the right side of the slot and he buried it for his third goal of the season.
UND responded just 24 seconds later, cutting the lead to 3-2 on a goal by Nick Portz from the top of the right circle.
The Broncos clamped down on UND in the third period and Sasson added an empty-net goal with 1:33 left in the game.
