North Dakota defeats Western Michigan 4-1 in series finale

Western Michigan Hockey Drops Series Finale to North Dakota

Western Michigan hockey lost the series finale 4-1 to North Dakota on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The defeat dropped the fifth-ranked Broncos to 6-2-1 overall and 0-1-1 in National Collegiate Hockey Conference play. Tenth-ranked North Dakota improved to 5-3-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference action with the victory.

North Dakota built a commanding lead early in the contest by scoring two goals in the first period. Gavin Lindberg opened the scoring at 1:14 to spark the home team’s offensive surge. Cody Croal added a second-period goal at 7:54, pushing the Fighting Hawks’ advantage to 3-0 before the second intermission.

Freshman forward Adam Benák put the Broncos on the scoreboard at 8:23 of the third period. Benák leads the team with 15 points, tallying five goals and ten assists this season. He has now scored in three straight contests, becoming the first Western Michigan freshman to achieve that feat since Ty Henricks during the 2024-25 campaign.

Croal secured the victory for North Dakota by netting an empty-net goal at 17:57 of the third period, stretching the final margin to 4-1. Sophomore goaltender Quentin Miller stopped 24 shots for the Broncos, while Jan Špunar recorded 17 saves for the Fighting Hawks.

Final Season at Historic Lawson Arena

The 2026-27 campaign marks the final season at historic Lawson Arena for the Western Michigan hockey program. Named after Harry W. Lawson, the founding father of the program, the venue has served as the home of Bronco hockey since the 1974-75 season. The university is celebrating five-plus decades at the arena throughout the year with special events, promotions, and ‘Fan Friday’ giveaways.

Upcoming Matchup Against Colorado College

Western Michigan returns to the ice to host eleventh-ranked Colorado College for a two-game series at Lawson Arena. The opening game is scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM, with broadcasts available on NCHC.TV and the Bronco Media Network.

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