First photo: The puck drops to begin the decisive third period. WMU tallied two goals in the third to win 5-3 and clinch a home ice spot for the first round of the CCHA playoffs.
Second photo: Bronco senior captain Chris Frank and a Bowling Green player discuss a penalty with a referee during Saturday's contest.
When I first took on the Bronco hockey beat after football season, the hockey team seemed headed to another long season and perhaps a slot at the bottom of the standings. However, after a superb second half of the season highlighted by CCHA scoring champion and senior Patrick Galivan, WMU captured the seventh spot (out of 12) in the standings to finish the season. The first four seeds get byes in the playoffs and the Broncos (seven seed) are hosting the 10 seed (Lake Superior State) in the first round this weekend. The series is best out of three with games coming Friday, Saturday and, in necessary, Sunday night. All games are set to begin at 7:35 p.m. and tonight's game is on Fox Sports Net Detroit Plus.
It was exciting to watch the scene unfold last weekend here in Kalamazoo. The Broncos needed to win both games to get home ice and the playoffs and that's exactly what they did. They scored ten goals in two games to overwhelm Bowling Green and sweep the Falcons and earn a spot hosting the first round of the playoffs.
Behing goaltender Riley Gill, Galivan and several young freshman, the Broncos have made quite an improvement in the second half this year. Hopefully that trend will continue this weekend as they try and make strides as they head into next season. While getting to the CCHA Championship isn't likely, if there is one thing I learned from this season it's that anything is possible in college hockey.
On a more somber note, both of my grandparents are very sick. My grandpa is nearing the end and according to his doctor should pass within the next couple of weeks. He's been sick for years now and I'm just hoping that he drifts into another world one of these nights in his sleep. Nobody wants to go out experiencing the kind of pain I'm sure he is dealing with.
My grandma is also sick and has a kidney and head infection (scary). She was fine until just a couple days ago when she started feeling weak and sick. We thought it was the flu but, when checked out at the hospital, it was found to be more serious. My sister and mom are down there right now and hopefully their presence will help ease the stress in my grandma. Praying hard for her recovery right now.
Just waiting for the call that puts me on a plane down to Tennessee...
Don't think too many people that live in Kalamazoo are reading this, but if there are, come out to the games at Lawson this weekend. It would be excellent to have some support as the Broncos try to win a home playoff series for the first time in several years.
1 comment:
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