KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team opened its 2024-25 season with a 4-1 victory over the USNTDP on Saturday night at Lawson Arena. 

Zach Nehring, Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Tristan Lemyre and Liam Valente all scored for the Broncos. Cameron Rowe and Hampton Slukynsky split time in net. Slukynsky tallied eight saves, while Rowe made seven stops and got the win. 

FIRST PERIOD
Team USA got the first shot of the game, but it was all Broncos after that. Ty Henricks and Zack Sharp had shots saved before Nehring tipped a shot home to put the Broncos in front 1-0 not even five minutes into the game. 

Midway through the period, the Broncos took a slashing penalty. Brian Kramer blocked the only USNTDP shot and the Brown and Gold got back to full strength.

Not too long after that, Crusberg-Roseen netted the second goal for the Broncos on a nice wrister from the right circle. That would end up being the game-winning goal for WMU. Tim Washe got the assist on the goal. 

Western Michigan would carry that two-goal lead into the second 20 minutes.

SECOND PERIOD
After some back-and-forth action in the opening few minutes, both teams got penalties. WMU picked up a five-minute major and a game misconduct, while Team USA was hit with a minor penalty. 

During the 4-on-4 play, USNTDP was able to score and bring the game back to within one goal. The Broncos killed off the remaining time on the major penalty and got back to full strength. 

Slukynsky would enter the net midway through the period and went on to not allow a goal the remainder of the game. Just over 13 minutes into the second frame, USNTDP picked up a minor penalty for hitting from behind. 

On the power play, Alex Bump had two shots while Valente and Samuel Sjolund added one a piece. Team USA would escape the threat and get back to full strength. WMU would head back on the power play late in the period and carry some time over into the final 20 minutes. 

THIRD PERIOD
USNTDP would kill off the remaining time, and the Broncos would pick up penalty of their own. Slukynsky made a pair of saves to keep WMU in front, 2-1. 

WMU started to take control after the game moved beyond the midway point of the third period. The Broncos went on the power play just under 11 minutes into the frame. Iiro Hakkarainen had a shot on the man advantage, while Washe drilled the post with time ticking down on the power play. Eventually, Team USA would get back to full strength. 

After a Nehring shot was saved, Lemyre fired a quick wrister by the US goaltender to increase the WMU lead to 3-1 with just over three minutes to play in the game. 

Not even 15 seconds later, Valente got free thanks to passes from Nehring and Sharp. He promptly lit the lamp to make the score 4-1 in favor of the Broncos. WMU would go on to close out a three-goal win on opening night. 

UP NEXT
Western Michigan will begin regular-season play next Friday night against Ferris State at home. Puck drop is set for 7 PM at Lawson Arena.