Program's Fifth Consecutive NCAA Tournament Appears as Broncos Earn No. 1 Seed
*KALAMAZOO, Mich. —* The Western Michigan University men's ice hockey team will defend their national championship this season as the Broncos enter the NCAA Tournament with a program-record fifth consecutive appearance.
The defending champions earned a No. 1 seed in the national tournament for the third time in the last five years, positioning them to open their title defense against the Minnesota State Mavericks on Friday, March 27 in Loveland, Colorado.
Tournament Bracket Set
Puck drop is scheduled for 2:30 PM ET on ESPNU at Blue FCU Arena. The two teams will face off for the second consecutive season, having previously met in double overtime during last year's regional final in Fargo.
The Loveland regional also features Denver and Cornell as the other two regional participants. The winners of each regional semifinal will advance to Sunday, March 29 for a shot at a Frozen Four berth.
Program Success Under Ferschweiler
Western Michigan enters the tournament with a 26-10-1 overall record and is considered one of the top teams in the nation. The Broncos checked in at No. 5 in both the USCHO and USA Hockey national rankings, joining Michigan, North Dakota, Michigan State, Denver, and Miami in the top five.
"This will be the program's 11th NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Pat Ferschweiler," according to the athletic department. The Bronco program has never missed the NCAA Tournament during Ferschweiler's tenure.
Ticket Information
Ticket requests will be available starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 23. Fans can visit WMUBroncos.com/Tickets for more information or call the ticket office at 1-888-496-8849.
Championship Defense
The 2025 national championship remains WMU's only NCAA title, and the team looks to build on that success this season. The program continues to be a powerhouse in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), with strong fan support in the Kalamazoo area.
The NCHC championship race is wide open, with Miami receiving votes in the national rankings while St. Cloud State, Omaha, Arizona State, and Colorado College did not receive any recognition this week.