| Western Michigan Broncos | |
 | |
| Institution: | Western Michigan University |
|---|---|
| Location: | Kalamazoo, MI |
| School founded: | 1903 |
| Enrollment: | 24,815 |
| President: | John Dunn |
| Athletic Director: | Kathy Beauregard |
| Colors: | Brown and Gold |
| Home Arena: | Lawson Arena |
| Capacity: | 3,667 |
| Dimensions: | 200' x 85' |
| Men's Team | |
| Conference: | CCHA |
| Coach: | Jim Culhane (W. Michigan '87) |
| Conf. Championships: | 1986 |
The Western Michigan Broncos are a Men's Division I team in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
History[]
The Broncos program began in 1973 and joined the CCHA for the 1975–76 season. After ten seasons in the league Western Michigan won the 1986 CCHA Playoff Tournament and advanced to the school's first NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament in 1986.[1] The 1986 season marked the program's first and only CCHA Tournament Championship and the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament.[2] The Broncos entered the Tournament in the West Regional against Harvard and lost 0 game to 2, WMU was outscored 11–4 by the Crimson.[3]
Western Michigan's next post season appearance came in 1994. Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 1994 NCAA Division I Tournament and again fell in the first round with a 6–3 loss to Wisconsin.[4]
The Broncos rebounded in the 1995–96 season after a sub-.500 season in 1994–95. Western Michigan received the program's second at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan lost again in the first round to Clarkson 6–1.[5] The 1996 post season appearance would be WMU's last NCAA Tournament appearance to date.[6]
Coaching[]
The Broncos are coached by Jeff Blashill (Ferris '98). Blashill will enter his first season behind the Broncos' bench in 2010, replacing Jim Culhane as Western Michigan's head coach.[7] Blashill comes to WMU after serving as the head coach and GM of the Indiana Ice (USHL) from 2008-2010.[8] He also previously served as an assistant coach at Ferris State from 1999–2002 and at Miami (OH) from 2002-2008.[9]
Alumni[]
The Western Michigan Broncos have advanced a number of players to professional hockey, including a number of alumni that played and are currently playing in the NHL:[10]
- Bill Armstrong
- Mike Bishai
- Joe Corvo
- Jim Culhane
- Dan Dorion
- Patrick Dwyer
- Mike Eastwood
- Ross Fitzpatrick
- David Gove
- Glenn Healy
- Ron Hoover
- Keith Jones
- Jamal Mayers
- Andy Rymsha
- Bernie Saunders
- Paul Szczechura
- Mark Letestu
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| Central Collegiate Hockey Association |
|
Bemidji State | Bowling Green | Ferris State | Lake Superior | Michigan Tech | Minnesota State Northern Michigan | St. Thomas |
- ↑ http://www.uscho.com/stats/teamYxY.php/western-michigan-broncos/mens-college-hockey/team,wmu/season,20102011/gender,m.html
- ↑ http://www.ccha.com/the_ccha/ccha_history_and_records.aspx
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/20070930203641/www.ncaa.org/library/records/ice_hockey/m_w_ice_hockey_records_book/2006/2006_m_w_ice_hockey_records.pdf
- ↑ http://insidecollegehockey.com/6History/ncaa_94.htm
- ↑ http://insidecollegehockey.com/6History/ncaa_96.htm
- ↑ http://www.uscho.com/stats/teamYxY.php/western-michigan-broncos/mens-college-hockey/team,wmu/season,20102011/gender,m.html
- ↑ http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=204923671
- ↑ http://www.muredhawks.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/051508aaa.html
- ↑ http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=21964
- ↑ http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/alumni.php?tmi=8932