THIS WEEK
Western Michigan is set to host Colorado College in the opening round of the NCHC Tournament. The Broncos concluded the regular season with their highest NCHC finish in program history. WMU placed second out of eight teams, while Colorado College claimed seventh place in the league. The two teams have met four times already this season, with WMU taking all four matchups. The Tigers haven't scored more than a goal against WMU this season. 

LAST TIME OUT
Miami (OH) was able to put a scare into Western Michigan, as the RedHawks held a 4-2 lead with under four minutes to play in the contest. 

However, two late goals by Max Sasson and the overtime winner by Jason Polin was enough to earn the Broncos a 5-4 victory. Polin tallied his 29th goal of the season, which tied the NCHC single-season record. 

Miami took the lead less than three minutes into the game, with Red Savage lighting the lamp. However, WMU was able to take advantage of a power-play opportunity, as Dylan Wendt tipped a puck past Logan Neaton to knot the game, 1-1. 

In the second period, Cole Gallant ripped a shot from the middle of the ice that easily found the back of the net, giving WMU a 2-1 advantage. That lead would be short lived, however, as Miami scored just over a minute later to even the game at 2-2. 

The scoring opened up in the third period, with the RedHawks lighting the lamp twice to take 4-2 lead with under six minutes to play. The Broncos pulled their goalie to earn the extra attacker.

With the extra man, WMU's offense went to work. Sasson brought Western within one with a little over three minutes remaining in the game. Exactly a minute later, Sasson struck again, tying the game at 4-4 with just over two minutes to play. 

It didn't take long for WMU to score in overtime, as Jason Polin fired a one-timer into the back of the net for a 5-4 victory. 

CHASING HISTORY
Western Michigan senior captain Jason Polin is on the brink of etching his name in the history books of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. In the 5-4 win over Miami on March 4, Polin tied the NCHC single-season goal record (29). Currently, the record is shared with Omaha's Josh Archibald, who accomplished the feat in the 2013-14 campaign. 

His next shot to find the back of the net will put him alone at the top of that list, and he will become just the second player in the country to tally 30-plus goals in a season over the last five years. 

Polin was recently named NCHC First Team All-Conference, and he is a finalist for Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, the Senior-Scholar Athlete Award and the Sportsmanship Award.

RECORD-BREAKING SEASON
After an excellent 2021-22 campaign, the Western Michigan hockey team has continued to build on that success, earning its best NCHC regular-season finish in program history. 

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, three teams were within striking distance of second place. But it was Western Michigan that came away with that prize, as the Broncos swept Miami in Oxford. WMU finished two points ahead of Omaha and three points ahead of St. Cloud State. 

Not only was second place the highest finish in program history, but WMU's 15 conference wins and 44 points were also the highest marks in school history. Last year's team totaled 14 NCHC wins and 43 points. 

SAVVY SOPHOMORE
Sophomore Max Sasson was incredible in the two-game series at Miami (OH) this past weekend, totaling seven points on five goals and two assists. That led to him being named the NCHC Forward of the Week.

In Friday's game, the sophomore tallied three straight goals to earn his first career hat trick, while also handing out an assist in the 5-0 victory. The following night, Sasson lit the lamp twice in the closing minutes to send the game to overtime and dished out the assist on the game-winning goal in the extra frame. 

On the season, he has 39 points with 14 goals and 25 assists, which is tied-for-15th in the nation. 

THE COLORADO COLLEGE TIGERS | 10-21-3 Overall, 6-15-3 NCHC
- THE SERIES: The Broncos lead the all-time series 22-9-6, which includes four victories from earlier this year. WMU has won three of the meetings, 4-1, with the other being a 2-1 victory at Lawson Arena. 

- SCOUTING THE TIGERS: The Tigers have struggled since the turn of the new year, winning just one game since the start of January. CC defeated St. Cloud State back on Jan. 13. However, in that same period, the Tigers have six games that have resulted in a tie or one-goal loss. 

Hunter McKown leads the way for CC. He finished the regular season with 24 points on 19 goals and five assists. He scored against the Broncos back in February. Outside of McKown, Bryan Yoon leads the team in helpers, dishing out 13 assists. 

In net, the Tigers have one of the best goaltending cores in the country. Kaidan Mbereko and Matt Vernon have been excellent throughout the regular season. Mbereko was a NCHC All-Rookie Team honoree. He has a 2.43 goals against average and .923 save percentage. 

Vernon has played in 15 games, carrying a 2.57 GAA and .905 save percentage. 
 
ON THE HORIZON
If Western Michigan is able to win the best-of-three series against Colorado College, the Broncos will head to St. Paul for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. Should WMU lose, it will wait for NCAA Tournament selection day.