Hockey opens NCAA tournament against Minnesota State

Kalamazoo, me. – West -Michigan opens the NCAA tournament as the number 1 seed in the regional fargo. WMU will be matched on Thursday 27 March in Scheels Arena with the state of Minnesota. This is the first meeting ever between the two programs.

Last time -out

The Broncos conquered the very first NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship of the program once in an exciting way. The Brown and Gold was 4-2 North Dakota on Friday to continue to the title match. In the championship game, WMU came back from a shortage of three goals to beat Denver 4-3 in double extension. Alex Bump was called the Tournament MVP after he had given three goals in the weekend.

How we got here

WMU has been the most consistent team in the nation and led the NCAA with 30 victories.

The Broncos claimed both the NCHC Regular Season (Penrose Cup) and Tournament (NCHC Frozen Faceoff) titles and became the second team in the competition history to achieve that performance. The Brown and Gold secured the NCHC record with 19 victories while playing the conference.

Western Michigan makes his 10th NCAA tournament of all time. The Broncos have made the last four tournaments, which is the longest series in program history.

Attacking explosion

The Broncos have illuminated the score sheet and have the best attack in the nation. WMU scores 4.05 goals per game and is one of the two teams that are on average nationally better than four GPG.

That number has started since the calendar changed until 2025, because the Brown and Gold 103 goals scored for an average of 4.68 per match. WMU has scored four goals or more in each match during its current six-game extraction streak.

It is offensive by the Commission, because each of the four forward lines of WMU has produced on various points this season. All four lines of Western Michigan have 35 points or more, with the trio Alex Bump” Matteo Costantini And Owen Michaels First with 98.

Bump it up

Second -year student Alex Bump Has been in a tear and scored a goal in each of his last four games, while he records a point in 20 of his last 22 games. During the current Six-Game Win-Streak of WMU, he produced 10 points on seven goals and three assists.

The NCHC Voorwaartse of the Year and Unanimous First Team All-NCHC selection registered three goals at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff last weekend. This led him to be called the tournament -MVP.

He is up to 46 points on 23 goals and 23 assists this season. Since Brent Walton has not reached a player in 2004-05 in 2004-05.

Washe's winning ways
Tim Tea Is history on ice for WMU this season and serves as a leader for one of the best teams in program history.

The resident of Clarkston, Mich. Brok the single-season record of the game-winning goals program on 15 March in a 6-2 victory over St. Cloud State. He has seven this season and 10 for his career. He is two removed from matching the career park of Ethen Frank.

In addition, when Washe takes the ice on Thursday evening, he will bind the program record for most games that are played in a Bronco uniform. He will play in his 168th career game, in which he matched Brian Tulik who played for the Brown and Gold from 1987-92.

Exploring the Mavericks

Minnesota State will start the matchup on Thursday as the number 1 scoring defense in the country and winners of five consecutive games. The Mavericks have a general record of 27-8-3.

This will be the first meeting between the two programs, but this season MSU has a 3-1-0 record against NCHC opponents (1-1-0 versus North Dakota, 2-0-0 vs. Omaha).

Rhett Pitlick and Josh Groll Leiden offensive for the road and combine 72 points on 27 goals and 45 assists. The Mavericks also block many shots on the defensive side, with Mason Wheeler leading 63.

In the net, the state of Minnesota has one of the best goalkeepers in the nation. Alex Tracy comes in the game with a record of 26-8-3, 1.43 goals against average EN .945 savings percentage. He leads the nation in both GAA and the savings percentage and is second in victories.

NCAA Tournament results of all time

1986 vs. Harvard (Cambridge, Mass.) L, 2-4, 2-7
1993 vs. Wisconsin (Albany, NY) L, 3-6
1996 vs. Clarkson (Albany, NY) L, 1-6
2011 vs. Denver (Green Bay, Wis.) L, 2-3 2OT
2012 vs. North Dakota (St. Paul, Minn.) L, 1-3
2017 vs. Air Force (Providence, RI) L, 4-5
2022 vs. Northeastern (Worcester, Mass.) W, 2-1, OT
2022 vs. Minnesota (Worcester, Mass.) L, 0-3
2023 vs. Boston University (Manchester, NH) L, 1-5
2024 vs. Michigan State (Maryland Heights, MO.) L, 4-5, OT
2025 vs. Minnesota State (Fargo, ND) TBD

NCAA Points Leader of all time

3-troy Thrun 2 GP, 1-2-3 (1986)
Different bound on 2 points (most recently: Alex Bump vs. Michigan State, 2024, 1-1-2)

NCAA goals leader of all time

2 – Dan Dorion (1986), Frederick Tiffels (2017)

Single Game NCAAs Goals Leader

And Dorion – 2 vs. Harvard, 22-3-1986
Frederick Tiffels-2 versus Air Force, 24-3-2017

Single Game NCAA helps leader

Matheson Iacopelli – 2 vs. Air Force, 24-3-2017

Most saves in an NCAA tour lady

Jerry Kuhn – 35 vs. Denver, 18-8-2011

Consistency is the key

Since the beginning of the 2021-22 season, West-Michigan has been consistently to the top teams in the nation, and the polls reflect that. WMU has made three consecutive NCAA tournaments and is currently number 3 in the nation.

The Broncos have been arranged in the Top 20 since 11 October 2021.