GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Though the Broncos were trailing for most of the night, the Western Michigan hockey team was able to come back and capture a 7-6 victory over North Dakota Saturday night inside Ralph Engelstad Arena. 

Luke Grainger helped pace the Broncos offensively, tallying six points (two goals, four assists). That was the first six-point game for a Bronco since 2000, where David Gove notched two goals and four assists against Lake Superior State. Carter Berger, Chad Hillebrand, Cole Gallant and Tim Washe each had two points, while five other Broncos earned at least one point. 

The first period got off to a fast start with UND scoring two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the game. The Broncos would respond, however, as Gallant found the puck on his stick off of a rebound and put it past the goaltender to bring WMU back within one. That goal was assisted by Washe and Grainger. From there, Grainger notched his first goal of the night, dangling by a pair of UND defenders before putting a backhand top shelf to tie the game at 2-2. The Fighting Hawks would add a late goal to make the score 3-2 after 20 minutes of play. 

The second period had a similar start, with UND scoring two goals, which gave the Fighting Hawks a 5-2 advantage with under 10 minutes to play in the second period. But as the clock began to wind down in the second 20 minutes, Grainger found the back of the net again and brought the Broncos back within two. Grainger's goal was assisted by Gallant and Zak Galambos. Just over a minute later, Hillebrand backhanded a rebound past the goaltender, making the score 5-4 in favor of the Fighting Hawks. 

Neither team would find a goal in the first 14 minutes of the third period, but the pace picked up in the last six minutes with the Broncos adding three goals and the Fighting Hawks tallying one. Washe tied the game at 5-5 off of a slot pass from Grainger, and Larkin gave WMU the lead just 17 seconds later, finishing a two-on-one chance. UND used its sixth power play of the night to tie the game at 6-6 with with just over four minutes to play. As the time began to wind down in the final period, Grainger came out a scrum with the puck and threw it in front to Berger, who promptly lit the lamp for the game-winning goal. 

WMU went 2-for-4 on the power play, while totaling 35 shots on goal. UND went 4-for-6 on the power play and had 25 shots on net. Cameron Rowe finished the game with 19 saves. Grainger was named the first star of the game, while Berger earned third-star honors. 

The Broncos will continue their road trip with a pair of games at Colorado College next weekend. This is the first time the two squads have met this season.