2024–25 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season is the 51st season of play for the program and 12th in the NCHC. The Broncos represent Western Michigan University in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at the Lawson Arena and are coached by Pat Ferschweiler in his fourth season. The Broncos won the 2025 NCHC Tournament for the first time in program history, and received the conference's automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA tournament.

2024–25 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season
NCHC Regular Season, Champion NCHC Tournament, Champion NCAA Tournament,
Conference	NCHC
Home ice	Lawson Arena
Rankings
USCHO	#3
USA Hockey	#3
Record
Overall	30–7–1
Conference	19–4–1
Home	18–2–1
Road	9–4–0
Neutral	3–1–0
Coaches and captains
Head coach	Pat Ferschweiler
Assistant coaches	Jason Herter J. J. Crew Jared Brown
Captain(s)	Tim Washe
Alternate captain(s)	Alex Bump Matteo Costantini Cam Knuble
Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey seasons « 2023–24 2025–26 »

Season

Departures

Player	Position	Nationality	Cause
Jacob Bauer	Defenseman	United States	Graduation (retired)
Carter Berger	Defenseman	Canada	Graduation (signed with Hartford Wolf Pack)
Trevor Bishop	Forward	United States	Graduation (retired)
Cole Burtch	Forward	Canada	Transferred to Ferris State
Joe Cassetti	Forward	United States	Graduation (signed with Belfast Giants)
Sam Colangelo	Forward	United States	Graduation (signed with Anaheim Ducks)
Cédric Fiedler	Defenseman	United States	Graduation (signed with Lausanne HC)
Zak Galambos	Defenseman	United States	Graduation (signed with Belfast Giants)
Luke Grainger	Forward	Canada	Graduation (signed with San Jose Barracuda)
Chad Hillebrand	Forward	United States	Graduation (signed with Colorado Eagles)
Daniel Hilsendager	Defenseman	Canada	Graduation (retired)
Hugh Larkin	Forward	United States	Graduation (retired)
Oliver MacDonald	Forward	United States	Graduation (retired)
Jacob Napier	Defenseman	United States	Transferred to Colgate
Ethan Phillips	Forward	Canada	Graduation (retired)
Dawson Smith	Goaltender	Canada	Transferred to Robert Morris
Dylan Wendt	Forward	United States	Signed professional contract (New Jersey Devils)

Recruiting

Player	Position	Nationality	Age	Notes
Zach Bade	Forward	United States	21	Rosemount, MN
Connor Brown	Forward	United States	19	Estero, FL
Robby Drazner	Defenseman	United States	24	Buffalo Grove, IL; graduate transfer from Miami
Grady Gallatin	Defenseman	United States	20	White Bear Lake, MN
Iiro Hakkarainen	Forward	Finland	20	Helsinki, FIN
Ty Henricks	Forward	United States	19	Mission Viejo, CA; selected 183rd overall in 2023
Brian Kramer	Defenseman	United States	24	Wexford, PA; graduate transfer from American International
Ryan Kusler	Forward	United States	21	Battle Creek, MI
Tristan Lemyre	Forward	Canada	22	Mirabel, QC; transfer from Denver
Jack Mesic	Defenseman	United States	21	Plymouth, MI; transfer from Ferris State
Zach Nehring	Forward	United States	19	Minot, ND; selected 82nd overall in 2023
Zack Sharp	Defenseman	United States	19	Naperville, IL
Grant Slukynsky	Forward	United States	22	Edina, MN; transfer from Northern Michigan
Hampton Slukynsky	Goaltender	United States	19	Warroad, MN; selected 118th overall in 2023
Joona Väisänen	Defenseman	Finland	20	Espoo, FIN
Liam Valente	Forward	Sweden	21	Märsta, SWE; transfer from Providence

Roster

As of September 23, 2024.^[1]

No.	Nat.	Player	Class	Pos	Height	Weight	DoB	Hometown	Previous team	NHL rights
1		Kirk Laursen	Junior (RS)	G	6' 3" (1.91 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-01-02	Bloomfield Hills, Michigan	Miami (NCHC)	—
2		Grady Gallatin	Freshman	D	6' 3" (1.91 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	2004-06-07	White Bear Lake, Minnesota	Janesville Jets (NAHL)	—
3		Cole Crusberg-Roseen	Sophomore	D	5' 11" (1.8 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	2002-04-14	Stratham, New Hampshire	Lincoln Stars (USHL)	—
4		Robby Drazner	Graduate	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	2000-02-13	Buffalo Grove, Illinois	Miami (NCHC)	—
6		Jack Mesic	Sophomore	D	5' 9" (1.75 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	2002-10-18	Plymouth, Michigan	Ferris State (CCHA)	—
8		Zach Nehring	Freshman	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	179 lb (81 kg)	2005-03-07	Minot, North Dakota	Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)	WPG, 82nd overall 2023
9		Zach Bade	Freshman	F	6' 2" (1.88 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	2003-04-26	Rosemount, Minnesota	Tri-City Storm (USHL)	—
10		Zack Sharp	Freshman	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	2005-03-29	Naperville, Illinois	Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)	—
11		Ethan Wolthers	Junior	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)	155 lb (70 kg)	2001-07-19	Valencia, California	Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)	—
12		Connor Brown	Freshman	F	5' 8" (1.73 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2005-05-03	Estero, Florida	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)	—
13		Grant Slukynsky	Sophomore	F	6' 1" (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	2002-03-12	Edina, Minnesota	Northern Michigan (CCHA)	—
14		Brian Kramer	Graduate	D	5' 11" (1.8 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2000-07-20	Wexford, Pennsylvania	American International (AHA)	—
16		Tim Washe (C)	Graduate	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-08-25	Detroit, Michigan	Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)	—
17		Ty Henricks	Freshman	F	6' 4" (1.93 m)	216 lb (98 kg)	2005-06-28	Mission Viejo, California	Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)	NYR, 183rd overall 2023
18		Wyatt Schingoethe	Senior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	2002-08-03	Algonquin, Illinois	Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)	TOR, 195th overall 2020
19		Cam Knuble (A)	Graduate	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	2000-07-23	Grand Rapids, Michigan	Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)	—
20		Alex Bump (A)	Sophomore	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	194 lb (88 kg)	2003-11-20	Burnsville, Minnesota	Tri-City Storm (USHL)	PHI, 133rd overall 2022
21		Ryan Kusler	Freshman	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	187 lb (85 kg)	2003-05-19	Battle Creek, Michigan	Omaha Lancers (USHL)	—
22		Iiro Hakkarainen	Freshman	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	172 lb (78 kg)	2004-03-09	Helsinki, Finland	Fargo Force (USHL)	—
23		Liam Valente	Junior	F	5' 11" (1.8 m)	183 lb (83 kg)	2003-05-23	Märsta, Sweden	Providence (HEA)	—
24		Garrett Szydlowski	Sophomore	F	5' 10" (1.78 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2002-06-12	Detroit, Michigan	Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)	—
25		Matteo Costantini (A)	Senior	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	192 lb (87 kg)	2002-08-16	St. Catharines, Ontario	North Dakota (NCHC)	BUF, 131st overall 2020
26		Ean Somoza	Sophomore	F	6' 3" (1.91 m)	188 lb (85 kg)	2003-02-08	Thousand Oaks, California	Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)	—
27		Joona Väisänen	Freshman	D	6' 0" (1.83 m)	176 lb (80 kg)	2004-07-29	Espoo, Finland	Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)	PIT, 175th overall 2024
29		Tristan Lemyre	Junior	F	5' 9" (1.75 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	2001-01-15	Mirabel, Quebec	Denver (NCHC)	—
30		Hampton Slukynsky	Freshman	G	6' 1" (1.85 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	2005-07-02	Warroad, Minnesota	Fargo Force (USHL)	LAK, 118th overall 2023
31		Cameron Rowe	Graduate	G	6' 3" (1.91 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	2001-06-01	Wilmette, Illinois	Wisconsin (Big Ten)	—
33		Samuel Sjölund	Junior	D	6' 1" (1.85 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	2001-05-19	Stockholm, Sweden	Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)	DAL, 111th overall 2019
34		Owen Michaels	Sophomore	F	6' 0" (1.83 m)	185 lb (84 kg)	2002-05-01	Detroit, Michigan	Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)	—

Standings

2024–25 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standings v t e
	Conference record											Overall record
	GP	W	L	T	OTW	OTL	SW	PTS	GF	GA		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA
#3 Western Michigan †*	24	19	4	1	4	3	0	57	98	51		38	30	7	1	154	80
#15 Arizona State	24	14	9	1	2	5	1	47	91	69		37	21	14	2	136	103
#6 Denver	24	15	8	1	2	1	0	45	89	59		41	29	11	1	164	89
Omaha	24	14	9	1	1	1	1	44	82	69		36	18	17	1	105	99
#18 North Dakota	24	14	9	1	3	1	1	42	81	73		38	21	15	2	120	111
Colorado College	24	11	12	1	4	1	1	32	68	72		37	18	18	1	106	113
Minnesota Duluth	24	9	13	2	2	2	1	30	63	77		36	13	20	3	99	117
St. Cloud State	24	7	16	1	2	3	0	23	53	79		36	14	21	1	79	110
Miami	24	0	23	1	0	3	0	4	38	114		34	3	28	3	63	143
Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: March 24, 2025

Schedule and results

Date	Time	Opponent#	Rank#	Site	TV	Decision	Result	Attendance	Record
Exhibition
October 5	7:00 pm	USNTDP*	#17	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan (Exhibition)			W 4–1
Regular Season
October 11	7:00 pm	Ferris State*	#17	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 4–1	3,637	1–0–0
October 12	7:00 pm	at Ferris State*	#17	Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan	FloHockey	Slukynsky	W 5–1	1,112	2–0–0
October 17	7:00 pm	Bowling Green*	#17	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 6–2	2,179	3–0–0
October 19	6:00 pm	York*	#17	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan (Exhibition)		Slukynsky	W 8–0	1,829
October 26	7:00 pm	at #2 Boston College*	#14	Conte Forum • Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	ESPN+	Slukynsky	L 2–4	7,884	3–1–0
November 8	8:00 pm	at Omaha	#14	Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska		Rowe	W 2–1	6,683	4–1–0 (1–0–0)
November 9	8:00 pm	at Omaha	#14	Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska		Slukynsky	W 4–2	7,022	5–1–0 (2–0–0)
November 15	7:00 pm	#8 Colorado College	#13	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 3–2 OT	3,437	6–1–0 (3–0–0)
November 16	6:00 pm	#8 Colorado College	#13	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	T 1–1 SOL	3,966	6–1–1 (3–0–1)
November 22	8:00 pm	at Minnesota Duluth	#9	AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota		Rowe	W 5–2	5,057	7–1–1 (4–0–1)
November 23	6:00 pm	at Minnesota Duluth	#9	AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota		Slukynsky	W 4–1	5,831	8–1–1 (5–0–1)
November 29	7:00 pm	#6 Michigan*	#7	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 4–1	3,974	9–1–1
November 30	7:00 pm	at #6 Michigan*	#7	Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, Michigan	BTN+	Slukynsky	L 1–2	5,800	9–2–1
December 6	7:00 pm	#2 Denver	#7	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 3–2	3,586	10–2–1 (6–0–1)
December 7	6:00 pm	#2 Denver	#7	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	L 2–3	3,930	10–3–1 (6–1–1)
Great Lakes Invitational
December 29	3:37 pm	vs. Michigan Tech*	#6	Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Semifinal)	Midco Sports+	Rowe	W 4–3 OT	9,900	11–3–1
December 30	7:00 pm	vs. #1 Michigan State*	#4	Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Championship)	Midco Sports+	Rowe	L 1–3	6,857	11–4–1
January 3	7:00 pm	Alaska Anchorage*	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 4–1	2,654	12–4–1
January 4	6:00 pm	Alaska Anchorage*	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–2	3,033	13–4–1
January 17	8:00 pm	at #14 North Dakota	#4	Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota	Midco	Rowe	W 3–2 OT	11,603	14–4–1 (7–1–1)
January 18	7:00 pm	at #14 North Dakota	#4	Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota	Midco	Slukynsky	W 5–1	11,659	15–4–1 (8–1–1)
January 24	7:00 pm	Miami	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 8–3	3,595	16–4–1 (9–1–1)
January 25	6:00 pm	Miami	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	W 2–0	3,840	17–4–1 (10–1–1)
January 31	9:00 pm	at Colorado College	#3	Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado	CBSSN	Rowe	W 4–1	3,541	18–4–1 (11–1–1)
February 1	8:00 pm	at Colorado College	#3	Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado		Slukynsky	L 2–3	3,550	18–5–1 (11–2–1)
February 7	7:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 4–0	3,425	19–5–1 (12–2–1)
February 8	6:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	W 6–1	3,572	20–5–1 (13–2–1)
February 14	7:00 pm	#20 Omaha	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Rowe	W 5–4 OT	2,823	21–5–1 (14–2–1)
February 15	6:00 pm	#20 Omaha	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	W 6–1	3,580	22–5–1 (15–2–1)
February 21	9:00 pm	at #12 Arizona State	#3	Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona		Rowe	L 3–5	5,323	22–6–1 (15–3–1)
February 22	7:00 pm	at #12 Arizona State	#3	Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona		Slukynsky	W 4–3 OT	5,250	23–6–1 (16–3–1)
February 28	7:00 pm	#18 North Dakota	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	W 6–4	3,571	24–6–1 (17–3–1)
March 1	6:00 pm	#18 North Dakota	#4	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan		Slukynsky	L 3–4 OT	3,623	24–7–1 (17–4–1)
March 7	7:00 pm	at Miami	#4	Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio		Slukynsky	W 8–3	1,411	25–7–1 (18–4–1)
March 8	7:00 pm	at Miami	#4	Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio		Slukynsky	W 5–2	2,338	26–7–1 (19–4–1)
NCHC Tournament
March 14	7:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan (Quarterfinal Game 1)		Slukynsky	W 6–2	3,553	27–7–1
March 15	6:00 pm	St. Cloud State	#3	Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan (Quarterfinal Game 2)		Slukynsky	W 6–2	3,456	28–7–1
March 21	8:30 pm	vs. #17 North Dakota	#3	Xcel Energy Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (Semifinal)	CBSSN	Slukynsky	W 4–2	7,532	29–7–1
March 22	8:30 pm	vs. #6 Denver	#3	Xcel Energy Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (Championship)	CBSSN	Slukynsky	W 4–3 2OT	5,853	30–7–1
NCAA Tournament
March 27	5:00 pm	vs. #14 Minnesota State*	#3	Scheels Arena • Fargo, North Dakota (Regional Semifinal)	ESPNU
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source:[2]

Scoring statistics

Rankings

Main article: 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey rankings

Poll	Week
	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26 (Final)
USCHO.com	17	17	17	14	13	14	13	9	7	7	6	6	–	4	4	4	3	3 (1)	4	3	3 (16)	4 (1)	4 (1)	3	3 (5)	3 (5)
USA Hockey	15	17	16	13	14	13	11т	9	7	7	6	6	–	4	5	5	4	3	4	4	3 (1)	4 (1)	5	3	3 (1)	3 (1)

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12.^[3]
Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.