COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Western Michigan improved to 23-8-1 overall and 15-6-1 in NCHC play with a 2-0 victory over Colorado College on Saturday night at Ed Robson Arena. With the win, WMU will battle for the Penrose Cup next weekend at Lawson Arena.

Zaccharya Wisdom lit the lamp against his former team, while Grant Slukynsky added a third-period goal to put the game out of reach. Hampton Slukynsky made 28 saves in net and earned his fourth shutout of the season. 

FIRST PERIOD
WMU killed off a pair of early penalties, nearly scoring shorthanded twice. As the game moved back to 5-on-5, the Broncos started to assert themselves. Slukynsky won a battle behind the net, and Wisdom was able to find twine to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

Now up one, the pressure didn't stop. The Brown and Gold earned its first power play of the night with about six minutes to play in the opening frame. Despite multiple quality looks, including a blast from Whitelaw, the Tigers were able to get back to full strength. 

Down the stretch, the officials took control. Both teams were assessed penalties, including a major and a game misconduct on Western Michigan. The Broncos carried a 1-0 lead into the second 20 minutes of play. 

SECOND PERIOD
CC would get back to even strength after nine seconds of 4-on-4 play, leaving three minutes of power play time on the major penalty. The Tigers would do nothing with the opportunity, as WMU limited them to zero shots on net. 

After some 4-on-4 hockey, Colorado College would earn another power play. Slukynsky would make two saves, helping the Brown and Gold work back to full strength. Following some highlight reel saves from Slukynsky, Western Michigan would get another look on the power play. 

Owen Michaels and Liam Valente nearly added to the lead, but the Tigers would get the kill. With two seconds on the clock, Colorado College won an offensive zone faceoff and found the back of the net. However, the Broncos were blatantly interfered with on the draw, and the officials sent CC to the box. The goal came off the board, and the Brown and Gold took a power play into the final frame. 

THIRD PERIOD
Despite not scoring on the man advantage, WMU would continue to threaten. A little over four minutes into the final frame, Wisdom dropped a pass to Slukynsky who rifled a shot top shelf for a 2-0 lead. 

Slukynsky would make a flurry of saves to keep the Brown and Gold in front by two as the game moved closer to the middle portion of the period. In the back half of the frame, Iiro Hakkarainen and Valente had shots turned away. 

Down the stretch, CC would pull its goalie looking to get back in the game. However, the defense tightened up, and the Broncos would go on to claim a shutout victory. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will play for the Penrose Cup next weekend at Lawson Arena. North Dakota will be in town, with the series opener set for Feb. 27 at 7 PM.