Western Michigan’s Historic Victory: A Frozen Four Thriller
ST. LOUIS — In a game that will be remembered for its intensity and drama, Owen Michaels delivered a moment of magic for Western Michigan. Scoring his second goal just 26 seconds into the second overtime, Michaels propelled the Broncos to a 3-2 victory over defending champion Denver on Thursday night. This win not only secured their place in the Frozen Four title game for the first time but also marked a significant milestone in the team’s history.
Western Michigan’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. With a record of 33-7-1, the Broncos have set a new single-season record for victories. Their triumph over Denver extended their winning streak to nine games, a testament to the team’s resilience and determination. This victory was particularly sweet as it came after they had squandered a 2-0 lead in the third period.
The Broncos will now face the winner of the Boston University-Penn State matchup in the championship game on Saturday night. The anticipation is palpable as fans eagerly await to see if Western Michigan can continue their fairy-tale run.
A Game of High Stakes and High Drama
The deciding goal by Michaels was a thing of beauty. It came during a rush into the Denver zone, with Matteo Costantini making a crucial play by driving up the right wing and sweeping the puck into the middle. Michaels, seizing the opportunity, accepted the pass and sent a shot soaring over goalie Matt Davis’ right shoulder.
“Blacked out a little. It was kind of a little bit of a broken play, just saw the puck squirt out to me,” Michaels, a sophomore from Northville, Michigan, recounted. “I was in the middle of the ice and had some open time and space and figured I’d put it on net. And pretty happy it went in.”
Denver, a team with a storied history, was not going down without a fight. Jared Wright scored the tying goal with just 2:39 left in regulation, and Aidan Thompson also found the back of the net. Goalie Matt Davis was a standout performer with 44 saves, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Pioneers from falling short in their quest to become the NCAA’s ninth team to repeat as champions.
Reflections and Future Prospects
For Denver’s defenseman and Hobey Baker finalist Zeev Buium, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. Buium, who leads NCAA defensemen with 48 points, now faces a decision about his future. Drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild, he has the opportunity to make the jump to the NHL.
“I don’t know. It’s tough. We just lost a big game. I hate losing. I love this place more than anything in the world,” Buium said. “So I think for now I’m just going to spend time with my teammates and enjoy these days with them and we’ll see what happens. I’ll have to reflect on these next few days and I’ll see what happens.”
A Familiar Rivalry
The game was reminiscent of the NCHC rival’s last meeting in the conference tournament championship last month. On that occasion, Western Michigan staged a dramatic comeback from a three-goal, third-period deficit to win 4-3 in double overtime. This time, the Broncos were the ones who had to hold their nerve after letting a lead slip.
Western Michigan dominated much of the game, with Michaels and Brian Kramer scoring second-period goals. The Broncos had a staggering 32-8 edge in shots, showcasing their offensive prowess. Zach Nehring came close to scoring just a minute into the game, hitting the crossbar with a shot that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
“It’s a focused group. They never lose belief in themselves,” said coach Pat Ferschweiler, who has led the Broncos to a tournament berth in each of his four seasons in Kalamazoo. “They came in unhappy with the third period. But I think our biggest mistake was not scoring on all our chances in the second,” he added. “Denver has a championship pedigree. They’re going to push and make it hard on you. … But we knew over the entirety of the game, I thought we were the better squad.”
- Western Michigan’s record: 33-7-1
- Winning streak: 9 games
- Denver’s record: 31-12-1
- Key players: Owen Michaels, Brian Kramer, Hampton Slukynsky, Jared Wright, Aidan Thompson, Matt Davis, Zeev Buium
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
