DENVER, Colo. – Western Michigan dropped an overtime thriller, 2-1, to Denver on Saturday night at Magness Arena. 

Bobby Cowan was the lone Bronco to light the lamp, while Hampton Slukynsky made 30 saves in net. Tyler MacKenzie and Garrett Szydlowski picked up assists in the contest. 

FIRST PERIOD
Both teams came out aggressive, getting some great looks on net. Samuel Sjolund nearly put the Brown and Gold in front early, firing a shot from the right circle. DU goaltender Johnny Hicks was there to make the save. 

A little bit later, Western Michigan would get the game's first power play. Despite peppering Hicks with pucks, the Pioneers were able to get back to even strength. They then went on a power play of their own. Slukynsky and the Bronco defense stood tall and earned the kill. 

In the back half of the period, Slukynsky dominated in between the pipes. He made several highlight saves to keep the game tied at 0-0. With time winding down, Zaccharya Wisdom and Zach Nehring were able to find quality chances. Hicks made both saves, and the two teams went to the locker room tied at 0-0. 

SECOND PERIOD
Liam Valente and William Whitelaw had fantastic chances saved by Hicks in the opening minutes of the second frame. From there, Whitelaw and Theo Wallberg nearly added a goal to the board. However, Hicks was once again there to keep the sheet clean. 

Eventually, WMU would get another chance on the man advantage. Slukynsky made a dazzling save on a shorthanded chance from the Pios, and then WMU went to work. Zach Bookman had a blast from the point saved by the DU netminder, while Cowan had a shot miss just wide. The Pioneers would bring the game back to 5-on-5. 

In the back half of the period, Western Michigan continued to threaten. Sharp galloped into the zone and fired a wrister on net that nearly beat Hicks. Down the stretch, Sharp and Iiro Hakkarainen had shots saved by Hicks. The two teams entered the third frame with nothing on the scoreboard. 

THIRD PERIOD
The intensity ramped up in the third period, as both teams generated quality scoring chances. Colby Woogk, Owen Michaels and Whitelaw each had strong looks on net to open the frame. Hicks was again there to stop them all. 

A little bit later, Sharp and Valente tried their luck. The duo nearly got the first goal of the game on the board. As the game moved to the back half of the period, WMU started to find even better looks. With a little under seven minutes to play in the third period, Cowan ripped a shot under the bar from the point to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. 

With under six minutes to go, WMU was given a hooking penalty. DU called a timeout and pulled its goalie, looking to even the score. With time winding down on the man advantage, the Pioneers were able to tie the game at 1-1. 

Cole Spicer would fire one more shot on net for the Brown and Gold, but the game would go on to overtime. 

OVERTIME
WMU dominated overtime, getting quick chances from Whitelaw and Hakkarainen. Then, Ty Henricks had a point-blank chance saved by Hicks. After a Slukynsky save, Valente nearly closed out the game. 

However, a little under six minutes into the extra session, Denver would throw a puck on net that would find its way in off several bodies out front. 

UP NEXT
The Broncos will look ahead to the NCAA Regionals, which are set for March 26-29. The selection show will air on Sunday, March 22.