The Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey team represents Western Michigan University in NCAA Division I college ice hockey. As a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), the Broncos have a storied history dating back to their first season in 1973.
The Broncos joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) for the 1975-76 season, marking an important step in the program's development. The team's journey through various conferences and tournaments reflects their growth and commitment to excellence.
Early Years and Conference Championships
In 1967, the Western Michigan Broncos were MAC champions, achieving an impressive 18-5 overall record and dominating opponents with a 109-50 scoring advantage. Their 8-1 league record secured their thirteenth league title since 1949.
Western Michigan's next post season appearance came in 1994. Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 1994 NCAA Division I Tournament and again fell in the first round with a 6-3 loss to Wisconsin. The Broncos rebounded in the 1995-96 season after a sub-.500 season in 1994-95. Western Michigan received the program's second at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The CCHA disbanded after the 2012-13 season, in part due to the addition of men's ice hockey to the Big Ten Conference. Western Michigan won the 2013 four-team Great Lakes Invitational which was played outdoors at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Broncos defeated No. 3 Michigan 3-2 in overtime in the semifinals, and then claimed the championship by beating Michigan Tech 1-0, also in overtime.
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Evolution of Jerseys
Understanding the history of athletic uniforms and equipment provides insight into the evolution of team identity. By researching the history and evolution of athletic uniforms and equipment, it’s possible to see how the uniforms and equipment have changed overtime, but at the same time how they have stayed the same.
Game-used jerseys often become prized memorabilia for fans. For example, a Danny DeKeyser Western Michigan jersey, commemorating his time before joining the NHL's Detroit Red Wings, is a valuable item for Broncos fans.
One particular jersey, listed as game-worn from Western Michigan’s CCHA championship season, presents a unique challenge. The Broncos won that championship in 2012, but no player on the roster wore number three that season. The last player to wear number three before that season was Mike Levendusky, in the 2010-11 campaign. More recently the number was worn by Thomas Nitsche last season.
Here’s what I can tell you. For those of you intending on wearing this casually though, be advised, the zipper does not appear to work.
The Journey: Anaheim Ducks Brand History
Recent Successes
In the 2016-17 season, the Broncos bounced back from a disappointing 8-25-3 season with an impressive 22-13-5 record, finishing third in the NCHC. Western Michigan was invited to the final Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena, where they defeated Michigan Tech in the championship. WMU has been invited to the GLI 5 times dating back to 1977, winning it 3 of those times.
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The 2021-2022 season was a legendary one for Western Michigan, marked by 26 wins under head coach Pat Ferschweiler. The Broncos shared the 2021 Great Lakes Invitational championship by defeating Michigan State and advanced to their first NCHC championship game. Western Michigan clinched their first 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament and claimed their first playoff win by defeating Northeastern.
The 2024-2025 Season
The Broncos’ 2024-2025 season was their best season to date. The Broncos collected numerous wins against top-10 ranked opponents and remained ranked in the top-5 for the majority of the season. On February 28, 2025, WMU defeated North Dakota 6-4 to claim their first NCHC regular season championship.
After being down 3-0 in the NCHC Tournament Championship, WMU would score four unanswered goals to defeat Denver 4-3 in double overtime. This would the Broncos’ first ever NCHC Tournament Championship and third overall conference championship. WMU earned the 1-seed in the Fargo Regional for the NCAA Tournament, where they defeated Minnesota State and UMass to advance to St. Louis, where they would play in their first Frozen Four in school history. In a rematch of the NCHC Tournament Championship, the Broncos defeated Denver in a 2OT thriller to advance to their first championship game.
Notable Seasons and Achievements
| Season | Achievements |
|---|---|
| 1967 | MAC Champions (18-5 overall record) |
| 2012-2013 | Won the Great Lakes Invitational |
| 2016-2017 | Defeated Michigan Tech in the Great Lakes Invitational championship |
| 2021-2022 | Shared the Great Lakes Invitational championship; First NCAA Tournament playoff win |
| 2024-2025 | First NCHC regular season championship; First NCHC Tournament Championship; Advanced to Frozen Four |
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