Western Michigan Outlasts UMD, 3-2, in OT

Western Michigan has moved into a tie for third place in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

The visiting Broncos pulled out a 3-2 win in overtime Friday night at Minnesota-Duluth, as Max Sasson backhanded home a loose puck just over two minutes into the extra session before 6,316 fans at Amsoil Arena. The goal came after he had attempted a centering pass from behind UMD's net.

Quinn Olson's extra-attacker goal with exactly one minute remaining in regulation had pulled the host Bulldogs (12-14-1 overall) into a 2-2 tie, after Luke Grainger's power-play goal midway through the second period put No. 10 WMU (18-10-1) ahead by a goal. WMU had taken a 1-0 lead early in the first period on a shorthanded goal by Jason Pollin, his nation-leading 24th goal of the 2022-23 season, before Ben Stevees knotted matters less than eight minutes later for UMD.

Cameron Rowe made 32 saves for the Broncos, while Zach Stejskal recorded 28 stops for the Bulldogs, as UMD outshot WMU, 34-31.  The two teams, who will finish their two-game series tonight in Duluth, combined to go 1-for-6 on the power play, while WMU won 41 of 75 faceoffs overall.

WMU is now tied with Nebraska-Omaha for third place in the NCHC with 30 points apiece, although Omaha has a game in hand. Defending NCAA champion Denver is in first place with 32 points, while St. Cloud State is right behind DU with 31 points.

Western Michigan Wins 2022 GLI

The first Great Lakes Invitational held outside Detroit is done.

18th-ranked Western Michigan took home the crown earlier this week by winning both of its games, 8-1 over No. 17 Michigan Tech in the first round, and 8-2 over Ferris State in the championship contest. MTU finished in third place by edging 11th-ranked Michigan State, 3-2, in the consolation game. FSU had beaten MSU, 4-2, in the first round.

WMU senior forward Jason Polin scored three goals in each game for the Broncos (10-9-1 overall), giving him five hat tricks on the 2022-23 season, and a nation-leading 19 goals through 22 games. His scoring efforts also garnered him the Jack Tompkins Trophy as this year's GLI MVP. Cameron Rowe stopped 52 of 56 shots over two games for the Broncos, who also got five assists in all from Ryan McAllister, the top scorer in NCAA Division I with 28 assists and 38 points through 22 outings..

The victory was WMU's fourth GLI title in six appearances, the last coming in 2016. WMU also won the GLI in 2013 and 1986.

All four games this year were held at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., home of the AHL's Griffins. It was the first time the tournament had been held since 2019, with the 2020 version being canceled due to COVID-19, and last year's version being played on campus sites in what was a non-traditional, non-championship format. The GLI began in 1965 at the old Olympia, before later being played at now-demolished Joe Louis Arena, Comerica Park (outdoors) and Little Caesar's Arena, all in Detroit.