NCAA hockey championship highlights: Western Michigan dominates Boston University 6-2 – USA Today

There was chaos near the goal early in the third period as Boston University looked to even the score Saturday night.
But Western Michigan deflected multiple Terriers shot attempts to maintain its 3-2 lead. The Broncos dominated from that point forward to pick up their first national championship win.
Shortly after, they took a 4-2 lead with 12:44 left in the third period, inching closer to victory. Western Michigan then scored another at 16:02 to extend its lead to 5-2. The Broncos clinched the 6-2 victory with an empty-net goal with 2:08 to go.
The win marks Western Michigan’s first national title in program history. Boston University, a six-time champion, had its title drought extend to 16 years.
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Western Michigan wins it 6-2, riding a big final period in which it scored three goals to take a 6-2 lead. The Broncos are the 2025 national champs, winning their first in school history.
Boston U pulls its goalie as it looks to make a late comeback, but Western Michigan scores into the empty net for its third goal of the period and a 6-2 lead.
Western Michigan is going to win its first national title ever in convincing fashion.
The Broncos add its second goal of the third period courtesy of Iiro Hakkarainen, who extends Western Michigan’s lead to 5-2 with under four minutes left. That all but seals it for WMU.
BU nearly shortens the deficit to 4-3, but Western Michigan goalie Hampton Slukynsky comes up with the big save to keep the Broncos’ lead at 4-2.
The Broncos extend their lead to 4-2 on a goal from Owen Michaels. Western Michigan is starting to feel it.
Knuble is a graduate forward from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is in his fifth season with Western Michigan.
Knuble put on a nasty juke before assisting on the Broncos’ third goal of the game.
The Broncos are holding strong, leading Boston U 3-2 heading into the final period. Western Michigan is just 20 minutes away from potentially winning its first-ever men’s hockey championship.
Boston U gets a goal back, making the score 3-2 courtesy of Shane Lachance. Western Michigan challenges the goal, but the officials confirm the score.
WMU takes a 3-1 lead on the goal from Ty Henricks with 14:42 left in the second period. Cam Knuble made a beautiful move before finding Henricks for the goal. What a play.
The Broncos hold a 2-1 edge after the first period, as they’ve outshot the Terriers 9-8 so far. Both offenses are getting plenty of chances.
Here’s another look at Boston U’s first goal, which just snuck in the goal after looking like a Western Michigan save:
The Broncos are back on top 2-1 following the goal from Cole Crusberg-Roseen, who scores on rebound of Owen Michaels’ narrow miss for the lead. The goal stands as unassisted.
Western Michigan with two unlikely goal scorers so far, as Schingoethe and Crusberg-Roseen entered the game with four and two goals, respectively, this season.
In what first appeared to be a save for Western Michigan, Boston U strikes back on a goal that sneaks through past the Broncos’ goalie.
We’re tied 1-1 midway through the first period as Cole Eiserman is credited with the goal.
That didn’t take long. The Broncos are on the board only 1:38 into the game, as forward Wyatt Schingoethe drops one in for the 1-0 lead.
Iiro Hakkarainen and Tim Washe pick up the assists.
Western Michigan and Boston U are underway. One final game to decide the national championship.
Here’s a look at what’s at stake on Saturday evening, as Boston U and Western Michigan battle for the national championship.
Michigan State forward Isaac Howard was named the Hobey Baker Award winner on Friday night. The award is given to college hockey’s top player each season.
Howard led the country averaging 1.41 points per game this season. He ranked fifth in points with 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games, helping lead the Spartans to a Big Ten championship this season.
The NCAA hockey national championship game between Western Michigan and Boston University will air live on ESPN2, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

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