The WMU hockey program raised its first National Championship banner on Thursday night, before then dropping its season opener to unranked Ferris State.
Western brought back 9 former players, representing several generations of Broncos hockey, for the pregame ceremony. A list that included former NHL players Danny Dekeyser and Luke Witkowski, and Larry Nolan, who played club hockey for Harry Lawson.
WMU’s National Championship trophy was displayed at center ice, in between the Penrose Cup and Frozen Faceoff trophies the Broncos won en route to their April national title.
The current Bronco players then posed for a picture in front of the teams new championship banner, before it was slowly raised to the rafters of Lawson Arena.
April’s National Championship was the first for the school since the men’s cross country team won back-to-back titles in 1964 and ’65.
WMU freshman Bobby Cowan scored the lone goal of the opening 20 minutes for the Broncos. Liam Valente scored in the 3rd period of Western’s 3-2 loss to the Bulldogs.
The two teams will play again on Friday night in Big Rapids.
.