Western Michigan tops BU, nets Frozen Four title
In a stunning 6-2 victory over Boston University, Western Michigan wins the national championship, the school's first. (0:40)
ST. LOUIS -- Owen Michaels scored two third-period goals to seal Western Michigan's first Frozen Four championship in a 6-2 victory over Boston University on Saturday night.
Iiro Hakkarainen and Wyatt Schingoethe had a goal and assist each, with Ty Henricks and Cole Crusberg-Roseen also scoring to cap the Broncos' first Frozen Four appearance in the program's 52-year history. Hampton Slukynsky stopped 24 shots, and top-seeded Western Michigan (34-7-1) closed its winningest season with 10 straight victories.
The Broncos reached the final when Michaels, who played two seasons in the North American Hockey League and does not have an NHL contract, scored his second goal 26 seconds into double overtime in a 3-2 victory over defending champion Denver in the semifinals Thursday night.
"So proud of this team. They believed in themselves from start to finish," Broncos coach Pat Ferschweiler said. "They cared about each other all year. I couldn't be more proud of them."
In defeating the five-time champion Terriers, the Broncos become the fourth program to win the title in its championship game debut, joining Denver (1958), Cornell (1967) and Lake Superior State (1988).
Western Michigan also made it three-for-three for Michigan-based teams winning the tournament when it takes place in St. Louis, after Michigan State won in 2007 and Michigan Tech in 1975.
"Kalamazoo is only 150,000 people and it felt like half the town was here," Ferschweiler said, referring to the school's campus location. "You could feel the energy in the streets during the day."
The win didn't come easily. The Terriers appeared to cut the lead to 4-3 with 8:04 remaining when Matt Copponi jammed in a rebound through Slukynsky's legs. Though replays clearly showed the puck going over the line, the goal was disallowed because the whistle had blown.
Cole Eiserman and Shane Lachance, a prospect for the New Jersey Devils, scored for Boston University (24-14-2). Mikhail Yegorov, also a prospect for New Jersey, stopped 22 shots in a matchup of freshman goaltenders.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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