# 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 4th 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.

## Standings

2024–25 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall 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 | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 146 | 75 |
| #11 Arizona State | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 91 | 69 | 36 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 134 | 99 |
| #6 Denver | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 89 | 59 | 39 | 28 | 10 | 1 | 157 | 83 |
| Omaha | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 82 | 69 | 36 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 105 | 99 |
| #17 North Dakota | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 81 | 73 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 118 | 107 |
| 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 17, 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 $^{SOW}$ | 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 (NCHC 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 (NCHC 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 (NCHC Semifinal) | CBSSN | | | | |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 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) | | |
| 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) | | |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.