KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey program and head coach Pat Ferschweiler have announced senior forward Zaccharya Wisdom as the team's captain for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Joining Wisdom in WMU's leadership group will be assistant captains Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Garrett Szydlowski, Joona Väisänen and William Whitelaw.  
 
"It's an honor to wear the Bronco jersey, and an honor and a blessing to be able to lead this team alongside Cole Crusberg-Roseen, Garrett Szydlowski, Joona Väisänen and William Whitelaw," Wisdom said. "I'm looking forward to getting this year started!"
 
Entering his second season with the Broncos, Wisdom is coming off of a career year which saw him amass 30 points, fourth-most on the team, ranking third in goals with 17 and adding 13 assists. He has the second-highest goal and point totals among returning players for Western Michigan.
 
Crusberg-Roseen was named a WMU assistant captain for the second consecutive season. The senior defenseman has played 82 career games for Western Michigan and helped the Broncos rank inside the top-10 in the nation in penalty killing in each of his first three seasons with the program, including ranking fourth nationally during the team's run to the National Championship in 2024-25.
 
Szydlowski is also set to begin his fourth year with the Brown and Gold after notching five goals and six assists for 11 points in 2025-26. Another member of the 2024-25 National Championship team, Szydlowski contributed an assist on the game-winning goal against Boston University in the National Championship Game.
 
An All-NCHC Third Team selection as a freshman on the National Championship team, Väisänen is back for his third season with the Broncos after having his sophomore campaign cut short due to injury. The Finnish defenseman has recorded 32 points in 49 games for Western Michigan and is +28 for his career.
 
Whitelaw is WMU's leading returning goal and point scorer from the 2025-26 campaign, having tallied 34 points on 19 goals and 15 assists. The senior forward enters his second season with the Brown and Gold having racked up 40 goals and 69 points in 111 career games at the collegiate level.
 
The Broncos open the 2026-27 campaign with a home exhibition game against Western Ontario on Saturday at 6 pm. WMU begins the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 8, as Ferris State comes to Lawson Arena at 7 pm.
 
The 2026-27 campaign marks the Final Season at historic Lawson Arena for Western Michigan hockey. Named after the founding father of the program, Harry W. Lawson, the arena has been home to Bronco hockey since the 1974-75 season. All throughout the 2026-27 season, WMU hockey will be celebrating its five-plus decades at Lawson Arena with special events, giveaways and promotions. Secure your tickets and help us celebrate the Final Season at Lawson Arena by going to wmubroncos.com/tickets.