The Western Michigan Broncos tied the Colorado College Tigers Saturday night and then won the shootout to earn the extra point.
The game was a tough goaltender battle between Chase Perry for the Tigers and Lukas Hafner for the Broncos. The stout netminding was accented by wild swings in momentum, leaving the game with a feeling of uncertainty throughout.
“He played a real good game,” said Colorado College coach Mike Haviland of Perry. “They (WMU) certainly came after us, especially in the second period, and he stood tall for us.”
The Tigers struck first on an unassisted goal by Cody Bradley with 41 seconds left in the opening period, knocking in his own rebound after Hafner was not able to locate the puck following a close range wrist shot.
Colorado College generated a lot of first-period opportunities, outshooting Western Michigan 14-8. The Broncos responded with fantastic goaltending, strong in-zone puck control, and a strong presence in front of the crease, controlling most rebounds to keep the game close.
The Broncos generated some offense despite the SOG totals with a Taylor Fleming offering ringing off the post on an early slap shot and several other quality drives that went wide of goal.
The Tigers played stout in their own end as well, blocking several shots and highlighted by a dominant penalty kill that allowed only one Broncos shot on net. WMU also killed its only penalty of the period.
WMU dug themselves into a deep hole to begin the second period, having to kill nearly four minutes of penalty on virtually back-to-back calls, but were able to climb out allowing only two shots on net for both penalties.
The strong penalty kill sparked the Broncos, who went on to outshoot the Tigers 14-2 in the period, which was played almost exclusively in the Tigers’ zone.
“We were determined, whether we were killing the penalty or five-on-five,” said Broncos coach Andy Murray of his team’s second period performance. “We lit a fire in our team.”
Western Michigan thought it had tied the game early in the period on a Colton Hargrove shot that was set up beautifully by Sheldon Dries from behind the goal line, but the goal was eventually disallowed. There was never a reason given by the officials for the overturned call.
“Obviously it’s not a good feeling,” said junior center Nolan LaPorte of the disallowed goal. “Guys yelling short memory, turn the page.”
Strong goaltending by Perry and poor shot placement by Western Michigan was the only reasons the Tigers were able to maintain the lead, as they had no answer for the Broncos’ offensive pressure.
The third period was the only balanced frame of the game, with both teams skating at a furious pace. The period would only see 12 total shots on goal in a period full of transitional play through the neutral zone.
Western Michigan finally scored late in the final period on a close range shot by LaPorte that was assisted by Hargrove and Dries.
Colorado College was hampered by a penalty in OT and was not able to generate a single shot on net, while Western Michigan had five offerings in the period but was not able to get a tally, appropriately sending the game to a shootout
The Broncos took an early lead in the shootout on a double touch move by Kyle Novak that beat Perry to the far post.
The goalies then traded saves until the Tigers were down to their final shooter, who beat Hafner with a rising backhand that extended the SO. Western Michigan answered quickly when freshman standout Frederik Tiffels planted a low stick side goal to regain the lead. Sam Rothstein failed to get a shot off for the Tigers on the next CC attempt.
The win brings Western Michigan, who will play Colgate on December 29 in the Three Rivers Classic, to 7-8-1 (2-6-2-2). Colorado College drops to 3-11-1 (0-8-1-0) and will take on the USA Hockey Under-18 National Team in an exhibition game at home on Dec. 27.
