KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Western Michigan is set to play in its first ever Frozen Four on Thursday night at the Enterprise Center. WMU and Denver will tussle for the fourth time this season. All three meetings this season have been one-goal games.
LAST TIME OUT
The Broncos won the Fargo Regional with a pair of wins over Minnesota State (2-1 2OT) and UMass (2-1). The Brown and Gold are now the last one seed remaining in the national tournament.
BLAZING BRONCOS
WMU is the hottest team in the nation, winning its last eight games and 21 of its last 24. WMU has one regulation loss since the calendar turned to 2025.
During its eight-game winning streak, Western Michigan has outscored its opponents 37-16. In the new year, the Brown and Gold have tallied 107 goals while allowing just 51.
The Broncos’ run hasn’t come easily, as they have beaten four ranked teams in a row during the current win streak (North Dakota, Denver, Minnesota State, UMass). WMU has an NCAA leading 32 victories this season, with 13 coming against nationally ranked opponents. That number jumps to 19 if you include teams receiving votes.
LEANING ON LIAM
Junior forward Liam Valente has been on quite the tear lately, and nothing changed during the Fargo Regional. Valente recorded three points on two goals and one assist in the two wins, which led to him being named the region’s Most Outstanding Player.
He was quite the hero during the regional weekend, as he provided an assist on the game-winning goal against Minnesota State. He also scored WMU’s first goal in both games to spearhead a pair of victories.
The Swedish sniper has a point in eight consecutive games, totaling nine points on two goals and seven assists in that stretch. He is up to a career high 33 points through 40 games this season.
HAMMER TIME
Freshman goaltender Hampton Slukynsky took over as the team’s starting goaltender in mid-February, and he’s been extraordinary since the announcement. The Warroad, Minn. native has started the last 11 games for the Brown and Gold.
In that stretch, the Los Angeles Kings draft pick has a 10-1-0 record to go along with 241 total saves. He has won four straight games against ranked opponents.
Despite being a first-year player, he’s stepped up in some big moments. In six postseason games, he has recorded a 6-0-0 record, 1.62 goals against average and .931 save percentage. He was even better at the Fargo Regional, posting a 0.82 GAA and .966 save percentage in two wins. He was named to the Fargo Region All-Tournament Team.
On the season, the young netminder holds a 17-5-1 record, 1.92 GAA and .923 save percentage. He’s made 549 total saves.
VALUABLE VETERANS
Western Michigan has been spearheaded by a group of seniors that have led the Broncos to new heights. It all starts with captain Tim Washe, who has set new career highs and broken some program records along the way.
Washe enters the Frozen Four with 35 points on 16 goals and 19 assists. Half of his goals are game winners, which is a single-season program record. He is one shy of the career record of 12 game-winning tallies set by Ethen Frank. Along with that, the Clarkston, Mich. native has been with the program through thick and thin. In a March 29 victory over UMass, Washe broke the program’s career games played record, skating in his 169th game.
Along with Washe, Matteo Costantini and Cam Knuble serve as captains this season. Those two have combined for 36 points on 13 goals and 23 assists. On the blue line, Brian Kramer and Robby Drazner joined the program as transfers this year, fitting in effortlessly. They are a combined +40 and have 30 points.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Denver is the top scoring team in the nation and has won five of its last six games. DU’s only loss in that stretch is a double overtime setback to Western Michigan. The Broncos are 2-1 against the Pioneers this season.
Denver is led on offense by Jack Devine and Aidan Thompson, who are both over 50 points this season. Devine leads the nation with 57 points, while Thompson is right behind with 54. Zeev Buium is the top blue liner in the country, as he carries 48 points on 13 goals and 35 assists into the Frozen Four.
Matt Davis has been solid in net, as he boasts a 29-9-1 record to go along with a 2.07 goals against average and .923 save percentage. WMU has had some success against him through the years, however. Since becoming DU’s go-to option in 2023-24, Davis has allowed 16 goals and holds a 2-3-0 record against the Brown and Gold.
ALL-TIME NCAA TOURNAMENT RESULTS
• 1986 vs. Harvard (Cambridge, Mass.) L, 2-4, 2-7
• 1993 vs. Wisconsin (Albany, N.Y.) L, 3-6
• 1996 vs. Clarkson (Albany, N.Y.) 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, R.I.) 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, N.D.) W, 2-1, 2OT
• 2025 vs. UMASS (Fargo, N.D.) W, 2-1
• 2025 vs. Denver (St. Louis, Mo.) TBD
ALL-TIME NCAA POINTS LEADER
• 3 – Troy Thrun 2 gp, 1-2-3 (1986)
• 3 – Liam Valente 2 gp, 2-1-3 (2025)
ALL-TIME NCAA GOALS LEADER
• 2 – Dan Dorion (1986)
• 2 – Frederick Tiffels (2017)
• 2 – Liam Valente (2025)
SINGLE GAME NCAA GOALS LEADER
• Dan Dorion – 2 vs. Harvard, 3/22/1986
• Frederick Tiffels – 2 vs. Air Force, 3/24/2017
SINGLE GAME NCAA ASSISTS LEADER
• Matheson Iacopelli – 2 vs. Air Force, 3/24/2017
MOST SAVES IN A NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME
• Jerry Kuhn – 35 vs. Denver, 3/18/2011
CONSISTENCY IS KEY
Since the start of the 2021-22 season Western Michigan has been consistently among the top teams in the nation, and the polls reflect that. The Broncos have now made four straight NCAA Tournaments and vaulted to No. 1 in the national polls this past week.
This is the first time in program history that WMU has topped the national rankings. Its 29 first-place votes were also a program best. The Broncos have been ranked in the top 20 since Oct. 11, 2021.
