LOVELAND, Colo. – Western Michigan's season came to an end on Sunday afternoon at Blue Arena, as the Broncos fell to Denver, 6-2, in the NCAA Regional Final. WMU closes out the year with a 27-11-1 overall record and 16-7-1 NCHC mark to go along with a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. 

Zach Bookman and Theo Wallberg tallied the goals for the Brown and Gold, while Samuel Sjolund, Zaccharya Wisdom and Bobby Cowan collected assists. Bookman was named to the Loveland Regional All-Tournament Team. 

FIRST PERIOD
Denver got off to a quick start, scoring the first two goals of the game. However, WMU had a response. Off a faceoff win, Sjolund found Bookman backdoor for his second goal of the tournament. That made it 2-1 in favor of the Pioneers. 

After some back-and-forth action, DU would find two more goals to take a 4-1 advantage. The Brown and Gold had some quality chances down the stretch, getting point-blank looks from Owen Michaels and Grant Slukynsky. Denver would keep them out of the net and take a three-goal lead into the second frame. 

SECOND PERIOD
WMU came out more aggressive in the second, getting the game's first power play about two minutes in. Liam Valente nearly brought the Brown and Gold back within two, but DU goaltender Johnny Hicks was able to stop the one-timer. 

Western Michigan would pick up a penalty of its own, but both teams eventually returned even strength. After a couple more chances for WMU, the officials assessed the Broncos with a roughing penalty. Denver wouldn't do anything with the chance, and the Brown and Gold brought things back to 5-on-5. 

Down the stretch of the frame, the Broncos continued to fire shots on Hicks. Iiro Hakkarainen and Zack Sharp had shots saved by Hicks in the closing minutes. The game remained 4-1 in favor of the Pios going to the final period. 

THIRD PERIOD
Western Michigan came out aggressive, getting a great look from Cole Spicer in the early portion of the final period. From there, Valente and Sharp had shots saved by Hicks. 

Eventually, WMU's persistence would pay off, as Wallberg fired a shot into the back of the net from the blue line. The goals was his second of the season and made the score 4-2 in favor of the Pios. 

However, DU would score a few minutes later and add an empty netter to cap off a 6-2 victory. The Brown and Gold end the season with 27 wins and a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.