Western Michigan’s Wyatt Schingoethe (18) and teammate Tristan Lemyre celebrate after their double-overtime win against Denver in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Western Michigan pulled off a stunning double-overtime win against reigning champs Denver, securing a 3-2 victory on Thursday night and earning a historic spot in the Frozen Four title game.
The hero of the night was Owen Michaels, who found the net just 26 seconds into the second overtime. It was his second goal of the game, but this one carried extra weight—it sealed the deal and sent the Broncos into their first-ever championship final.
The decisive moment came during a fast break. Matteo Costantini skated down the right flank and slid a sharp pass into the center. Michaels took control and fired the puck past Denver goalie Matt Davis, who had been brilliant all night with 44 saves. The shot sailed over Davis’ right shoulder and sparked celebrations on the Western Michigan bench.
Brian Kramer had earlier added to the scoreboard for the Broncos, who came into the game with a veteran-packed roster. Freshman goalie Hampton Slukynsky stood tall in net, blocking 20 shots and holding firm through the intense, end-to-end action. This win not only took Western Michigan (now 33-7-1) to a new milestone in school history with the most wins in a season, but also marked their ninth straight victory. It’s the first time the team has reached the national title game, and it comes in only their tenth NCAA tournament appearance.
Denver didn’t go down easily. With just 2:39 left in the third period, Jared Wright tied the game, sending it into overtime. Aidan Thompson also scored for the Pioneers, who were chasing their 11th national title. Despite Davis’ outstanding goaltending, Denver fell short of becoming the first back-to-back champion since Minnesota-Duluth in 2018-2019.
The loss might mark the end of the college career for standout defenseman Zeev Buium. A Hobey Baker Award finalist and top NHL prospect, Buium was drafted 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild. With 48 points this season, he leads all NCAA defensemen. His future plans remain uncertain.
Interestingly, this game echoed the drama of their last encounter in the NCHC championship last month. In that thriller, Western Michigan came from behind to win 4-3 in double overtime. This time, they held the lead early with goals from Michaels and Kramer in the second period and dominated the shot count 32-8. Though Denver forced overtime again, it was Western Michigan who had the final say.
The Broncos now await the winner of the Boston University vs. Penn State game and will face them in the national championship on Saturday night.
