KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team claimed three of the NCHC Player of the Week awards for the first week of its 2026-27 season, the league office announced on Tuesday. Junior defenseman Joona Väisänen was named Defenseman of the Week, sophomore Quentin Miller was awarded the Goaltender of the Week and freshman forward Adam Benák took home the league's Rookie of the Week.
 
After missing the majority of the 2025-26 season due to injury, Väisänen returned to the lineup for the season-opening series against Ferris State and made his presence known right away, scoring and adding two assists to tie his career high with three points on Thursday. He lit the lamp again the next night for the Brown and Gold and totaled a team-leading four points in WMU's series sweep. The junior was also a key cog in Western Michigan's dominant defensive effort, which saw the Broncos limit FSU to one goal over the two contests and go 10-for-11 (.909) on the penalty kill.
 
Miller shined in his Western Michigan debut, stopping 47-of-48 shots (.979 save percentage) during the team's two victories over Ferris State. On Opening Night, the Montreal native made 24 saves and shut out the Bulldogs to earn both his first win and first shutout for the Brown and Gold. He came back the next night and tallied 21 more saves in a 5-1 win. Miller was also a key part of WMU's penalty kill, which went 8-for-8 on Thursday and 10-for-11 for the series.
 
 
Benák tied for the team lead with four points over the weekend, picking up four assists in WMU's 5-1 win at Ferris State on Friday night. The freshman became the first Bronco to have four points in a game since Alex Bump (1-3-4) against Miami on Jan. 24, 2025, and the first to have a four-assist game since Chad Hillebrand against Bowling Green on Oct. 21, 2023. Benák is the only freshman in the nation to have had a four-point game so far this season.
 
 
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.