Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Ala -- A couple of first period goals and some spectacular goaltending in the final minutes led the Western Michigan hockey team to a 2-1 win and weekend sweep of Alabama-Huntsville on Saturday night.

There was no slow start for the Broncos (4-0-0) in tonight’s game as WMU took a 1-0 lead at the 11:45 mark of the first period. Friday night’s hero Trevor Elias got a pass in the corner from Kyle O'Kane. Elias brought it to the bottom of the near circle and wedged the puck between UAH goalie Cameron Talbot and the near pipe for his second goal of the season and the series. The freshman left-winger extended his scoring streak to four games and now has tallied a point in every collegiate game he has played in. Jared Katz picked up picked up his second assist on the season and the helper was O’Kane’s first.

Western Michigan wasted no time extending the lead to 2-0 as Chris Clackson put in a rebound off a shot by Cam Watson just 1:05 later. Matt Tennyson also picked up an assist on the goal. The game-winner was Clackson’s second goal on the season and Watson also notched his second helper.

Neither team made a dent in the score in the second period, but Alabama-Huntsville cut the lead, 2-1, 5:45 in to the third period. Brandon Roshko fed the puck to Kevin Morrison at the blue-line. Morrison beat the Bronco defense and got in on goal. WMU goalkeeper Riley Gill went low and Morrison shelfed the puck over him.

The goal re-energized the Chargers and UAH put consistent pressure on the Broncos for the remainder of the third period. Gill shined in the final period despite surrendering the goal, making 12 of his 29 saves  for his third win of the season. UAH pulled Talbot with a minute remaining for the man advantage but Gill would turn away three Charger shots in the final minute.

Western Michigan begins CCHA play as they split a home-and-home series with Michigan State. On Friday the Broncos travel to East Lansing for a 7:05 p.m. start and MSU returns to Kalamazoo on Saturday for a 7:35 p.m. start.