The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents Western Michigan University. The Broncos are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). They play at Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States.
Video Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
History
The Broncos program began in 1973 and joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) for the 1975-76 season. After ten seasons in the league Western Michigan won the 1986 CCHA Playoff Tournament and advanced to the school's first NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament in 1986. The 1986 season marked the program's first CCHA Tournament Championship and the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Broncos entered the tournament in the West Regional against Harvard and lost the two-game aggregate series, being outscored 11-4 by the Crimson.
Western Michigan's next post season appearance came in 1994. Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 1994 NCAA Division I Tournament and again fell in the first round with a 6-3 loss to Wisconsin.
The Broncos rebounded in the 1995-96 season after a sub-.500 season in 1994-95. Western Michigan received the program's second at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan lost again in the first round to Clarkson 6-1.
Under first-year coach Jeff Blashill, Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where they would lose their opening game 3-2 in double overtime to Denver. Denver scored two goals in the last 4:29 of the third period to force overtime.
In 2011-12, for the second consecutive season, Western Michigan had a new head coach and reached the NCAA tournament. Longtime National Hockey League (NHL) coach Andy Murray was named as coach of the Broncos after Blashill left for the Detroit Red Wings. WMU finished tied for second in the CCHA and won the CCHA tournament, thereby receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Western Michigan lost in the first round of the tournament 3-1 to No. 1 seed North Dakota.
The Broncos joined the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) starting in the 2013-14 season. The CCHA disbanded after the 2012-13 season, in part due to the addition of men's ice hockey to the Big Ten Conference.
Western Michigan won the 2013 four-team Great Lakes Invitational which was played outdoors at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Broncos defeated No. 3 Michigan 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals, and then claimed the championship by beating Michigan Tech 1-0, also in overtime. WMU won the 2014 Shillelagh Tournament with an 8-2 victory over No. 17 Union. The Broncos also defeated Ohio State in the first round of the tournament, 6-2.
In 2016-17, the Broncos followed up a disappointing 8-25-3 season with an impressive 22-13-5 and a 3rd place finish in the NCHC. Western Michigan was invited to the final Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena, where they defeated Michigan Tech in the championship. WMU has been invited to the GLI 5 times dating back to 1977, winning it 3 of those times. The Broncos were defeated in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Division I tournament by Air Force.
Maps Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
Yearly results
Through 2016-17 season
Coaching
The Broncos are coached by former Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues head coach Andy Murray. In his first season, he coached the Broncos to their second CCHA Tournament Championship in school history, as well as the school's fifth NCAA Tournament Bid.
All-time coaching records
Through 2016-17 season
* The 1998-99 season was coached by both Wilkinson and Culhane.
Players
2017-18 roster
As of July 27, 2017.
Alumni
The Western Michigan Broncos have advanced a number of players to professional hockey, including a number of alumni that played and are currently playing in the NHL. Several alumni are also known for their contributions as front office members and broadcasters.
* Did not play in the NHL.
Records
Through 2011-12 season
Career leaders
See also
- Western Michigan Broncos
References
External links
- Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
Source of article : Wikipedia
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