Western Michigan Broncos NCAA Tournament Bound on the Ice
After a third-place finish during the National Collegiate Hockey Conference regular season and falling in both contest during the Frozen Faceoff, the Western Michigan Broncos now prepare for their first NCAA Hockey Championship appearance since 2012.
The Broncos were unable to find any offense during their second Frozen Faceoff in school history, falling 5-2 to Minnesota-Duluth in the semifinal Friday and dropping a 3-1 decision to Denver in the third-place game Saturday. In four contests during the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, the Broncos are yet to win during the conference's final weekend.
Western's stellar regular season earned them the second-seed in the NCAA Tournament's East Region. It is the sixth NCAA appearance for the Brown and Gold in school history. Much like their success in the Faceoff, the Broncos are 0-5 in the NCAA Tournament.
One thing that will be familiar for the Broncos is that they will take on the Air Force Falcons this Friday in Providence, Rhode Island. Western tied and defeated the Falcons in a weekend series in November at Lawson Ice Arena. The game is available online through ESPN3. The winner advances to take on the top seed in the region, the Harvard Crimson, or the hosting Providence Friars Saturday.
If the Broncos were able to earn two wins this weekend, they will make their way to the NCAA Frozen Four in Chicago, taking place at the United Center April 6th and 8th.
Check out the highlights from last weekend's Frozen Faceoff from Minneapolis, courtesy of Western Michigan Bronco Athletics.