WMU News

Broncos eliminated in CCHA playoffs

March 11, 2000

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Western Michigan University's hockey season ended Saturday night (March 11), when the University of Michigan completed a two-game sweep of the Broncos in their best-of-three first-round CCHA playoff series.

The Wolverines, 26-8-4, ranked fourth in the nation and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, won 4-2 on Friday night and 6-2 on Saturday. Both contests were played in Ann Arbor at Michigan's Yost Ice Arena. WMU finished the season with a record of 12-21-3, their best finish and first playoff appearance since 1997.

Western Michigan entered the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament as the 10th seed after tying for ninth place in the regular-season league standings. Miami edged out WMU for the ninth playoff seed on a tie-breaker.

In Friday's loss, the Broncos trailed 3-0 after two periods, but trimmed the Michigan lead to 3-2 on goals by Steve Rymsha (his 13th of the season) and Mike Bishai (17th). It wasn't until late in the third period that the Wolverines put the game out of reach with their fourth goal. Western Michigan's sophomore goaltender Jeff Reynaert made 25 saves on the evening.

On Saturday, WMU received goals from Brent Rumble and Mike Bishai. With his 18th goal of the season, Bishai tied teammate David Gove for top honors in goals scored for the season. Gove finished the regular season with the third-highest point total in the CCHA. Bishai tied for fourth-highest total in the league. Western Michigan was the only team to have two players among the league's top five scorers.

Michigan led 2-0 after one period on Saturday. Rumble cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second period, but the Wolverines responded to regain a two-goal lead and led 4-2 at the second intermission.

The Wolverines are unbeaten in their last 13 games (10-0-3) versus WMU, dating to December
1995. WMU's last victory in Yost occurred Oct. 25, 1995. Michigan leads the all-time series, 44-22-9, which includes a 26-9-2 mark in Yost Arena.

Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, 616 387-4122; daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu


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