# 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season

The 2020–21 Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey season was the 47th season of play for the program. They represented Western Michigan University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season and for the 8th season in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Broncos were coached by Andy Murray, in his 10th season, and played their home games at Lawson Arena.

## Season

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the entire college ice hockey season was delayed. Because the NCAA had previously announced that all winter sports athletes would retain whatever eligibility they possessed through at least the following year, none of Western Michigan's players would lose a season of play. However, the NCAA also approved a change in its transfer regulations that would allow players to transfer and play immediately rather than having to sit out a season, as the rules previously required.
Western Michigan began the season playing a series of games in Omaha, Nebraska, along with the rest of the NCHC. Before the team could even finish its first game, the Broncos were hamstrung by an injury to their starting netminder, Brandon Bussi. The team turned to senior Austin Cain and, after a very rough start, he settled into the starting role. Cain played well at times but the team's compact schedule of games gave WMU few favors and by Christmas the team sat near the bottom of the conference with a 2–6–2 record. After getting swept by Miami at the beginning of January, freshman Alex Aslanidis was put in net and the team began to show signs of life. After nearly returning the favor to Miami, the Broncos swept #4 St. Cloud State and turned their season around virtually overnight. Aslanidis' performance, paired with the stellar play of Ronnie Attard, allowed Western Michigan to sweep another #4 team a few weeks later (Minnesota Duluth). In their final weekend of the regular season Bussi returned from his injury and swept Miami to put the team within one game of a .500 record.
Despite the teams vastly improved performance in the second half of the season, their record meant that the team had no real chance of making the NCAA tournament without winning the NCHC championship. The team had to get through Minnesota Duluth in the quarterfinals and the Broncos gave everything they had, taking a lead into the third period and then tying the game with less than a minute to play. WMU nearly matched UMD shot-for-shot but the final goal came from the Bulldogs and Western Michigan's season was over.
Jacob Bauer, Rhett Kingston and Jared Kucharek sat out the season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Reason |
| Wade Allison | Forward | Canada | Graduation (Signed with Philadelphia Flyers) |
| Luke Bafia | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (Signed with Kansas City Mavericks) |
| Ben Blacker | Goaltender | Canada | Graduation |
| Lawton Courtnall | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Wheeling Nailers) |
| Dawson DiPietro | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with Buffalo Sabres) |
| Cam Lee | Defenseman | Canada | Graduation (Signed with Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| Will Massey | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (Retired) |
| Hugh McGing | Forward | United States | Graduation (Signed with St. Louis Blues) |
| Cameron Orchard | Forward | United States | Left program |
| Austin Rueschhoff | Forward | United States | Signed professional contract (New York Rangers) |
| Mattias Samuelsson | Defenseman | United States | Signed professional contract (Buffalo Sabres) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Alex Aslanidis | Goaltender | United States | 19 | Moorestown, NJ |
| Jacob Bauer | Defenseman | United States | 18 | Detroit, MI |
| Trevor Bishop | Forward | United States | 21 | Rochester Hills, MI |
| Cédric Fiedler | Defenseman | United States | 19 | Boca Raton, FL |
| Aidan Fulp | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Indianapolis, IN |
| Ty Glover | Forward | Canada | 20 | Salford, GBR |
| Luke Grainger | Forward | Canada | 20 | Montreal, QC |
| Chad Hillebrand | Forward | United States | 21 | Park Ridge, IL |
| Daniel Hilsendager | Defenseman | Canada | 20 | Lloydminster, SK |
| Cam Knuble | Forward | United States | 20 | Grand Rapids, MI |
| Hugh Larkin | Forward | United States | 21 | Livonia, MI |
| Tim Washe | Forward | United States | 19 | Detroit, MI |
| Jarred White | Forward | Canada | 21 | Edmonton, AB |

## Roster

As of March 1, 2021

## Standings

2020–21 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 | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | PTS | PT% | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #5 North Dakota †* | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 54 | .750 | 94 | 47 | 29 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 114 | 57 |
| #2 St. Cloud State | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 45 | .625 | 78 | 64 | 31 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 101 | 84 |
| #3 Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 43 | .597 | 72 | 54 | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | 84 | 66 |
| #13 Omaha | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 40 | .556 | 79 | 69 | 26 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 85 | 81 |
| Denver | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 31 | .470 | 61 | 60 | 24 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 67 | 66 |
| Western Michigan | 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 33 | .458 | 73 | 84 | 25 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 77 | 89 |
| Colorado College | 22 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 18 | .273 | 35 | 77 | 23 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 36 | 79 |
| Miami | 24 | 5 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | .250 | 46 | 83 | 25 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 48 | 89 |
| Championship: March 16, 2021 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| December 1 | 8:07 p.m. | vs. St. Cloud State | #17 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | L 3–4 | 0 | 0–1–0 (0–1–0) |
| December 3 | 8:35 p.m. | vs. Omaha | #17 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | L 2–10 | 0 | 0–2–0 (0–2–0) |
| December 6 | 1:05 p.m. | vs. #1 North Dakota | #17 | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | L 2–8 | 0 | 0–3–0 (0–3–0) |
| December 8 | 12:35 p.m. | vs. Colorado College | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 0 | 0–3–1 (0–3–1) |
| December 9 | 4:35 p.m. | vs. #13 St. Cloud State | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | W 2–1 | 0 | 1–3–1 (1–3–1) |
| December 11 | 8:35 p.m. | vs. Colorado College | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | AT&T RM | Cain | W 5–2 | 0 | 2–3–1 (2–3–1) |
| December 13 | 5:05 p.m. | vs. #1 North Dakota | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | L 3–6 | 0 | 2–4–1 (2–4–1) |
| December 15 | 4:35 p.m. | vs. #8 Denver | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | Altitude | Cain | L 2–3 | 0 | 2–5–1 (2–5–1) |
| December 18 | 4:35 p.m. | vs. #17 Omaha | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | | Cain | L 5–6 | 0 | 2–6–1 (2–6–1) |
| December 19 | 5:05 p.m. | vs. #8 Denver | | Baxter Arena • Omaha, Nebraska | Altitude | Cain | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 0 | 2–6–2 (2–6–2) |
| January 2 | 5:05 p.m. | vs. Miami | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Cain | L 1–3 | 0 | 2–7–2 (2–7–2) |
| January 3 | 5:05 p.m. | vs. Miami | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Cain | L 1–5 | 0 | 2–8–2 (2–8–2) |
| January 8 | 7:00 p.m. | at Miami | | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Aslanidis | W 4–1 | 0 | 3–8–2 (3–8–2) |
| January 9 | 5:00 p.m. | at Miami | | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Aslanidis | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 0 | 3–8–3 (3–8–3) |
| January 15 | 7:05 p.m. | vs. #4 St. Cloud State | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Aslanidis | W 6–2 | 0 | 4–8–3 (4–8–3) |
| January 16 | 7:41 p.m. | vs. #4 St. Cloud State | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | CBSSN | Aslanidis | W 3–1 | 0 | 5–8–3 (5–8–3) |
| January 23 | 7:00 p.m. | at #7 Minnesota Duluth | | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Aslanidis | L 1–5 | 150 | 5–9–3 (5–9–3) |
| January 24 | 5:00 p.m. | at #7 Minnesota Duluth | | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Aslanidis | L 1–4 | 150 | 5–10–3 (5–10–3) |
| February 5 | 8:30 p.m. | at #4 St. Cloud State | | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | | Aslanidis | L 1–5 | 153 | 5–11–3 (5–11–3) |
| February 6 | 7:07 p.m. | at #4 St. Cloud State | | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, Minnesota | | Cain | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 157 | 6–11–3 (6–11–3) |
| February 12 | 6:05 p.m. | vs. #4 Minnesota Duluth | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Aslanidis | W 4–0 | 125 | 7–11–3 (7–11–3) |
| February 13 | 4:05 p.m. | vs. #4 Minnesota Duluth | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Aslanidis | W 4–1 | 125 | 8–11–3 (8–11–3) |
| February 26 | 6:05 p.m. | vs. Miami | | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Bussi | W 5–2 | 125 | 9–11–3 (9–11–3) |
| February 27 | 2:00 p.m. | at Miami | | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | CBSSN | Bussi | W 4–2 | 0 | 10–11–3 (10–11–3) |
| NCHC tournament ||||||||||
| March 13 | 8:30 p.m. | vs. #9 Minnesota Duluth | | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota | | Bussi | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 2,167 | 10–12–3 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Drew Worrad | C | 25 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 8 |
| Ronnie Attard | D | 25 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 8 |
| Ethen Frank | C | 24 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 4 |
| Paul Washe | C | 25 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 18 |
| Josh Passolt | LW | 25 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 14 |
| Cole Gallant | RW | 25 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 2 |
| Jason Polin | F | 23 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 4 |
| Michael Joyaux | D | 25 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 8 |
| Ty Glover | C | 24 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 10 |
| Aidan Fulp | D | 25 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 12 |
| Brett Van Os | LW | 24 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 37 |
| Luke Grainger | F | 25 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 12 |
| Scooter Brickey | D | 25 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
| Jamie Rome | F | 24 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Cédric Fiedler | D | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Chad Hillebrand | F | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Hugh Larkin | RW | 19 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Jarred White | LW | 14 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| Daniel Hilsendager | D | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Tim Washe | C | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Kale Bennett | D | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Trevor Bishop | F | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brandon Bussi | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lukas Samuelsson | F | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Knuble | F | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Alex Aslanidis | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Austin Cain | G | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bench | - | - | - | - | - | 8 |
| Total | | | 77 | 135 | 212 | 234 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut-outs | SV % | GAA |
| Brandon Bussi | 4 | 211 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 80 | 0 | .889 | 2.84 |
| Alex Aslanidis | 13 | 613 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 31 | 231 | 1 | .882 | 3.03 |
| Austin Cain | 15 | 683 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 46 | 308 | 0 | .870 | 4.04 |
| Empty Net | - | 14 | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 25 | 1522 | 10 | 12 | 3 | 89 | 619 | 1 | .874 | 3.51 |

## Rankings

| Poll | 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 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | - | NR |
| USA Today | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
USCHO did not release a poll in week 20.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award |
| Ronnie Attard | AHCA West First Team All-American |
| Ronnie Attard | NCHC Offensive Defenseman of the Year |
| Kale Bennett | NCHC Scholar-Athlete of the Year |
| Ronnie Attard | NCHC First Team |
| Ethen Frank | NCHC Third Team |