Huskies Fall to Broncos to Force Game Three of NCHC Quarterfinals

Saturday, March 16

St. Cloud, Minn.

6:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

16-15-5

Western Michigan

21-14-1

Western Mich.

St. Cloud St.

Huskies Fall to Broncos to Force Game Three of NCHC Quarterfinals

3/16/2024 11:53:00 PM | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Western Michigan scores five goals in the third period to win 6-1

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – No. 18 St. Cloud State Men's Hockey (16-15-5, 11-9-4 NCHC) dropped the second game of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Quarterfinals to No. 14/12 Western Michigan (21-14-1, 11-9-4 NCHC), 6-1, on Saturday night at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. The result sets up a final deciding third game with the winner securing a spot in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff next weekend at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

The game was tied at 1-1 heading into the third period before Western Michigan scored two power play goals in the third period to open the game. The Broncos would add three goals in the last three minutes to extend the lead to 6-1.

Freshman forward Tyson Gross (Calgary, Alberta) scored the Huskies lone goal in the game, as he netted a score in four-on-four play at the 7:12 mark of the second period. The play started when fifth-year defenseman Dylan Anhorn (Calgary, Alberta) found fifth-year forward Kyler Kupka (Camrose, Alberta) near the red line while catching the Broncos on a change. Kupka started a two-on-one breakaway where he set Gross up on the weak side for a one-timer score.

TOP HUSKIES

Gross scored for the fourth consecutive game and the seventh time this season.
Kupka and Anhorn recorded their 15^th and 26^th assists of the season, respectively.
Freshman goaltender Isak Posch (Umea, Sweden) made 34 saves in the game, including 15 in the first period.

NOTES

With the loss, St. Cloud State drops to 24-15-5 all-time against Western Michigan and 14-8-2 against the Broncos in St. Cloud.
The Huskies move to 3-1 against Western Michigan in the NCHC Tournament, 12-9 in the quarterfinals round and 20-13 in the NCHC Tournament overall.
Gross continued his hot stretch of play, scoring a goal for the fourth consecutive game and the fifth time in the last six games. Over his last six games, Gross has scored five goals and three assists for eight points.
Anhorn logged his 26^th assist of the season and now sits in eighth place on the single season assist list for Husky defenseman.
Kupka matched a career-best with his 15^th assist, equaling his mark from 2022-23.
Posch made a season-best 34 saves in the game.

HIGHLIGHTS

PRESS CONFERENCE

UP NEXT

St. Cloud State and Western Michigan will play game three of the NCHC Quarterfinals series tomorrow at the Brooks Center. Puck drop is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT on Fox 9 + and NCHC.tv.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Tickets for the 2023-24 season are available at www.scsutickets.com, downloading the St. Cloud State Huskies app or by calling 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.