ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Western Michigan eyes its first national championship in program history. WMU will hit the ice against Boston University on April 12 at the Enterprise Center. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos won a double overtime thriller against Denver in the program's first ever Frozen Four game. Owen Michaels delivered the game-winning goal in the second overtime session. 

BLAZING BRONCOS
WMU is the hottest team in the nation, winning its last nine games and 22 of its last 25. WMU has one regulation loss since the calendar turned to 2025. 

During its nine-game winning streak, Western Michigan has outscored its opponents 40-18. In the new year, the Brown and Gold have tallied 110 goals while allowing just 53. 

The Broncos' run hasn't come easily, as they have beaten five ranked teams in a row during the current win streak (North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota State, UMass, Denver). WMU has an NCAA leading 33 victories this season, with 14 coming against nationally ranked opponents. That number jumps to 20 if you include teams receiving votes. 

OWEN-ING THE COMPETITION
Owen Michaels has broken out in a big way during his sophomore season, carrying a career high 34 points into Saturday night's championship game. 

He helped the Broncos take care of business on Thursday night, netting two goals, including the game winner in double overtime. It was his second game-winning goal of the season. 

The Northville, Mich. native has been a go-to option throughout the postseason, sitting with six points on two goals and four assists in seven games. He's got four points in the NCAA Tournament this season. 

Michaels has the most NCAA Tournament points in program history. He's recorded at least one point in every national tournament game he's played in. He has two goals and three assists in four NCAA Tournament games. 

HAMMER TIME
Freshman goaltender Hampton Slukynsky took over as the team's starting goaltender in mid-February, and he's been extraordinary since the announcement. The Warroad, Minn. native has started the last 12 games for the Brown and Gold. 

In that stretch, the Los Angeles Kings draft pick has a 11-1-0 record to go along with 261 total saves. He has won five straight games against ranked opponents. 

Despite being a first-year player, he's stepped up in some big moments. In seven postseason games, he has recorded a 7-0-0 record, 1.60 goals against average and .928 save percentage. He made 20 saves on Thursday against Denver. Prior to the Frozen Four, he was named to the Fargo Region All-Tournament Team. 

On the season, the young netminder holds a 18-5-1 record, 1.90 GAA and .922 save percentage. He's made 569 total saves. 

VALUABLE VETERANS
Western Michigan has been spearheaded by a group of seniors that have led the Broncos to new heights. It all starts with captain Tim Washe, who has set new career highs and broken some program records along the way. 

Washe enters the championship game with 36 points on 16 goals and 20 assists. Half of his goals are game winners, which is a single-season program record. He is one shy of the career record of 12 game-winning tallies set by Ethen Frank. Along with that, the Clarkston, Mich. native has been with the program through thick and thin. In a March 29 victory over UMass, Washe broke the program's career games played record, skating in his 169th game. His final game in the Brown and Gold will be his 171st. 

Along with Washe, Matteo Costantini and Cam Knuble serve as assistant captains this season. Those two have combined for 37 points on 13 goals and 24 assists. On the blue line, Brian Kramer and Robby Drazner joined the program as transfers this year, fitting in effortlessly. They are a combined +42 and have 31 points. 

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
Boston University has been on a roll, winning six of its last seven games. The Terriers have scored 14 goals throughout the NCAA Tournament. 

BU and WMU met back in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, with the Terriers collecting a 5-1 victory. The Broncos are the No. 1 team in the nation this season, while Boston University is ranked No. 3. 

Quinn and Cole Hutson lead the way for BU, as they have combined for 97 points this season. Cole Eiserman is the team's leading goal scorer with 24 tallies this season. 

In net, the Terriers have turned to freshman Mikhail Yegorov, who joined the program in the middle of the season. He has been strong, boasting an 11-5-1 record to go along with a 1.98 goals against average and .934 save percentage. 

ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT RESULTS
• 1986 vs. Harvard (Cambridge, Mass.) L, 2-4, 2-7
• 1993 vs. Wisconsin (Albany, N.Y.) L, 3-6
• 1996 vs. Clarkson (Albany, N.Y.) L, 1-6
• 2011 vs. Denver (Green Bay, Wis.) L, 2-3 2OT
• 2012 vs. North Dakota (St. Paul, Minn.) L, 1-3
• 2017 vs. Air Force (Providence, R.I.) L, 4-5
• 2022 vs. Northeastern (Worcester, Mass.) W, 2-1, OT
• 2022 vs. Minnesota (Worcester, Mass.) L, 0-3
• 2023 vs. Boston University (Manchester, NH) L, 1-5
• 2024 vs. Michigan State (Maryland Heights, Mo.) L, 4-5, OT
• 2025 vs. Minnesota State (Fargo, N.D.) W, 2-1, 2OT
• 2025 vs. UMASS (Fargo, N.D.) W, 2-1
• 2025 vs. Denver (St. Louis, Mo.) W, 3-2 2OT
• 2025 vs. Boston University (St. Louis, Mo.) TBD

ALL-TIME NCAA POINTS LEADER
•  5 - Owen Michaels (2024-25)

ALL-TIME NCAA GOALS LEADER
•  2 -  Dan Dorion (1986)
•  2 - Frederick Tiffels (2017)
•  2 - Liam Valente (2025)
•  2 - Owen Michaels (2025)

SINGLE GAME NCAA GOALS LEADER
• Dan Dorion - 2 vs. Harvard, 3/22/1986
• Frederick Tiffels - 2 vs. Air Force, 3/24/2017
• Owen Michaels - 2 vs. Denver, 4/10/2025

SINGLE GAME NCAA ASSISTS LEADER
• Matheson Iacopelli - 2 vs. Air Force, 3/24/2017

MOST SAVES IN A NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME
• Jerry Kuhn - 35 vs. Denver, 3/18/2011

CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Since the start of the 2021-22 season Western Michigan has been consistently among the top teams in the nation, and the polls reflect that. The Broncos have now made four straight NCAA Tournaments and vaulted to No. 1 in the national polls this past week.

This is the first time in program history that WMU has topped the national rankings. Its 29 first-place votes were also a program best. The Broncos have been ranked in the top 20 since Oct. 11, 2021.