Western Michigan moves back into Top 20 after taking five of six points from UMD

By @MichaelCaples –

An impressive weekend from Western Michigan has the Broncos back in the Top 20.

WMU checks in at No. 17 in this week’s USCHO poll after the Broncos recorded a “sweep” of the defending national champion Minnesota Duluth in Kalamazoo Friday/Saturday.

The Broncos and the then-No. 4/3 Bulldogs played to a 1-1 tie Saturday night, and Hugh McGing scored the ‘game-winner’ in the third round of a sudden-death shootout after a scoreless three-on-three overtime period.

That goal gave the Broncos five of the possible six NCHC points available on the weekend.

McGing also scored the lone goal in regulation Saturday, while Trevor Gorsuch turned aside a career-best 38 saves.

The previous night, Colt Conrad played the hero role for the Broncos, as the senior forward scored the game-winning goal with 9.9 seconds remaining in regulation.

Ethan Frank and McGing also scored in the contest, while Gorsuch stopped 29.

One of the Broncos was named a player of the week by the NCHC on Monday; freshman defenseman and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program alum Mattias Samuelsson was named top rookie. Samuelsson recorded an assist on the game-tying goal Friday and an assist on the only WMU regulation goal Saturday, while helping the penalty kill stop nine of 10 UMD opportunities.

Western Michigan is now 9-6-1 on the season, and 4-3-1-1 in conference play.