#2 University of Wisconsin

Next Game:

vs. #2 University of Wisconsin

12/29/2025 | 8:30 PM


Dec. 29 (Mon) / 8:30 PM


vs. #2 University of Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Western Michigan improved to 11-6-0 overall with a 5-3 victory over No. 12 Boston College in the opening round of the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off on Sunday night at Fiserv Forum. 

William Whitelaw lit the lamp twice, while Liam Valente, Zaccharya Wisdom and Owen Michaels each had goals of their own. Hampton Slukynsky made 22 saves in net to earn his 11th win of the season. 

FIRST PERIOD

The Broncos got off to a fast start, getting shots from Zach Nehring and Grant Slukynsky. Following that, Theo Wallberg and Michaels were able to keep the puck alive in the offensive zone. The puck hit Whitelaw’s stick, and he buried a shot into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead. 

From there, WMU would get the first penalty of the game. BC would score, but the Brown and Gold would successfully challenge for offsides, taking the goal off the board. WMU would go on to kill the rest of the penalty. 

As the game moved to the back half of the period, Wallberg had a great chance on net saved by BC’s netminder. Both teams picked up penalties late in the frame, and WMU went to the first intermission with a 1-0 advantage. 

SECOND PERIOD

After those penalties expired, WMU went back to work. It didn’t take long before the Broncos added a second goal, as Valente broke away for his ninth goal of the season. Not too long after that, Whitelaw continued to wreak havoc, as he tallied his second of the game to make it a 3-0 game. 

However, BC would get one back moments after that to make it a two-goal game. Western Michigan eventually got its first power play of the night, with the Eagles sent off for tripping. The Broncos would get a trio of shots, but Boston College was able to work back to even strength. 

Down the stretch of the period, the Brown and Gold kept up the pressure. Bobby Cowan found Wisdom wide open in the right circle, and he finished a shot top shelf to bring the score to 4-1 in favor of the Broncos. Western Michigan carried that three-goal advantage into the final period of play. 

THIRD PERIOD

The Eagles made things interesting, scoring less than 30 seconds into the third frame to make it a 4-2 game. From there, both teams were given minor penalties, and the game moved to 4-on-4. Whitelaw nearly broke the game open, but he had his breakaway chance saved by the BC goaltender. 

After both teams got back to full strength, Samuel Sjolund fired a shot on net that nearly hit twine. The game moved to the back half of the period, and the Brown and Gold kept up the intensity. Grant Slukynsky hit the post with time winding down, and the Broncos continued to control the game. 

After a Slukynsky save with under six minutes to play, WMU was given a too many men on the ice penalty. Western Michigan would get back to full strength, but BC scored moments after to make it a one-score contest. 

Despite their best efforts, the Eagles weren’t able to keep the Broncos off the board, and Michaels scored an empty-net goal to secure a 5-3 victory. 

UP NEXT

The Brown and Gold will square off with Wisconsin tomorrow night at Fiserv Forum. Puck drop is set for 8:30 PM ET. 

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