Broncos hockey off to a hot start this season
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Western Michigan University men鈥檚 hockey team is making quite an impression this fall. The Broncos are off to a blazing 6-2 start. They are currently ranked No. 10 in the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national poll.
Experience leads the way for Western Michigan with captain Paul Washe, a fifth-year senior forward. Fellow grad students and forwards Ethen Frank and Josh Passolt serve as the assistant captains.
Frank is now tied at fourth in the nation for goals per game. The senior sniper has scored in each of the Broncos鈥� games so far this season. His even-tempered way helps to set the tone.
鈥淛ust calm down and keep your head straight and don鈥檛 overthink anything,鈥� Frank .
Ex-coach Andy Murray walked away over the summer after a decade at Western Michigan. Rookie head coach Pat Ferschweiler gave a glowing take on Frank after he tallied the game-winner on Oct. 29 at Colgate University in overtime.
鈥淚 believe he鈥檚 the fastest player [in] college hockey, and I think he showed it on that goal,鈥� Ferschweiler . 鈥淚f anybody saw him shooting by that guy and thought anyone in the world was going to catch them at that point in the overtime, no chance. He was flying. He鈥檚 been flying and he鈥檚 a threat every time he touches the puck because he is a world-class skater.鈥�
Junior defenseman Ronnie Attard may be the Broncos鈥� best player. The All-American blueliner recorded his first NCAA hat trick the next day, Oct. 30, at Colgate.
Coach Ferschweiler chimed in offering high praise for Western鈥檚 rising star.
鈥淣umber one, what I really like about Ronnie this year is, obviously, he鈥檚 a returning All-American, so the expectations are extremely high, but the leadership qualities he has really shown and the voice he鈥檚 finding in the locker room 鈥� is really impressive this year,鈥� Ferschweiler . 鈥淪o, he鈥檚 taken not only his game, but his off-ice game to a new level this year.鈥�
Beyond that, senior forward Drew Worrad is tied for fourth overall in assists per game.
鈥淚 think that is a really tight-knit group, and credit to Paul Washe鈥檚 leadership and Ethen Frank鈥檚 leadership and Josh Passolt and (Drew) Worrad and Ronnie Attard, our captains, they鈥檙e inclusive, and they bring everyone in,鈥� Ferschweiler .
This group has already shown they can play with anyone. They beat former No. 1 University of Michigan on the road in late October. And the Broncos just split back-to-back games with current No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth last week.
A number of other players make key contributions as well. Among them are senior forwards Rhett Kingston and Cole Gallant, along with senior defenseman Michael Joyaux. Additionally, junior Jason Polin and sophomore Ty Glover must be mentioned. Both forwards have helped to fill the stat sheet. It is important to note that junior goalie Brandon Bussi has been solid between the pipes.
Can they continue to climb the ranks?
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