BOX SCORE

QUOTES

KALAMAZOO -- Sophomore J.J. Crew registered the first hat-trick by a Bronco since Oct. 28, 2006 as the Western Michigan hockey team opened the 2009-10 season by defeating Mercyhurst, 5-1, in front of 1,907 fans at Lawson Ice Arena.

Crew lit the lamp on the power play early in the first period to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead. Max Campbell found Crew in the near circle and the Placentia, Calif., native skated through the slot, beating Mercyhurst goaltender Ryan Zapolski through his legs at the 7:18 mark.

“We lost (Patrick) Galivan, we lost the leading scorer in the CCHA off that left wing with Campbell and Squires,” said head coach Jim Culhane. “We need someone to come in and obviously, that was a great night for J.J. and the goals he put in.”

Western Michigan kept consistent pressure on the Lakers, firing off 14 of its game-high 40 shots in the first period.

Mercyhurst squared the game, 1-1, at 6:19 in the second period on a goal by Steve Cameron. Derek Elliot and Jeff Termines each picked up assists on the goal, but the Laker lead did not last long.

At 8:40 Crew notched his second power play goal of the night. The initial shot on net was made by sophomore Greg Squires but it deflected off of Crew’s skate and in to the net. Squries picked up his first of two assists on the night and freshman defenseman Matt Tennyson picked up his first collegiate assist in his first career game.

Just 1:29 later Chris Clackson pushed the Bronco lead to 3-1 after he put in a rebound from Cam Watson for his first goal of the season.  Watson and sophomore forward Ian Slater each picked up assists on the even strength goal.

The intensity kept up for the rest of the period and spilled over to the third period. Late in the third, the Brown & Gold killed off 1:45 of a five-on-three advantage and shortly put the nail in the coffin after it ended. Crew skated in on Zapolski and beat him on his stick side for his first career hat-trick, and the first since Mark Letestu netted three against Nebraska-Omaha. Squires and Campbell each picked assists on the goal at 18:47.

“I’d have to go back to midget hockey, probably like three years ago,” commented Crew. “It’s a little different at this level, a little harder to get goals so I’m pleased and I’m happy we got the win too.”

With the game in hand, Western Michigan added its fifth and final goal of the night when a trio of freshmen connected with 38-seconds remaining in the game. Dane Walters netted his first collegiate goal with Trevor Elias and Ben Miller earning their first collegiate assists.

Senior goaltender Riley Gill made 24 saves in the game, while his counterpart made 35. The Broncos converted two-of-nine power play opportunities and shut down the Mercyhurst power play, killing off all six chances.

Western Michigan hosts Mercyhurst again on Saturday at 8 p.m. for the final match of the home-opening series.