ST. LOUIS — Boston University’s bid for a sixth national championship was denied Saturday night, the Terriers falling short to Western Michigan, 6-2, at Enterprise Center.
The Terriers (24-13-2) entered the third period trailing 3-2, and appeared to have a chance to tie it when Cole Hutson flipped a pass to an open Cole Eiserman, but Western Michigan goalie Hampton Slukynsky (24 saves) came up with the key stop on the one-timer.
Minutes later, a turnover sprung the Broncos for a 2-on-1, with Owen Michaels keeping it himself and beating Mikhail Yegorov (22 saves) far side for a 4-2 edge at 7:16.
Iiro Hakkarainen’s goal at 16:02 effectively squashed any hopes of a BU comeback and delivered Western Michigan’s first national championship. Michaels added an empty-netter to account for the 6-2 final, giving him four goals in the two Frozen Four contests.
The Broncos (33-7-1) jumped out to the early lead when Wyatt Schingoethe redirected a shot from Iiro Hakkarainen past Yegorov just 1:38 into the contest.
Western Michigan had a chance to extend the lead on a Liam Valente breakaway later in the period, but Yegorov denied the Providence transfer’s bid.
BU got the equalizer at 7:12 on Cole Eiserman’s 25th goal of the season. Kamil Bednarik and Devin Kaplan attempted a give-and-go, but Kaplan’s return pass eluded Bednarik and got through to Broncos goalie Hampton Slukynsky, who made the stop and denied Kaplan’s rebound attempt.
But the Western Michigan goalie could not settle the puck, though, allowing Eiserman a couple of whacks before he was finally able to poke it into the net.
But the Broncos seized the lead once again, as Tom Willander’s bid to clear the puck from the front of the BU net went straight to Cole Crusberg-Roseen, whose one-timer beat Yegorov at 15:01 to give Western Michigan a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.
Western Michigan doubled the lead 5:18 into the second when Cam Knuble drove to the net, where Yegorov denied his backhanded bid, but Ty Henricks was there to knock home the rebound for a 3-1 advantage.
BU got its first power play at 10:26 of the second after Brian Kramer was whistled for holding. The Terriers needed all of 16 seconds to pull within one when Ryan Greene sent a blast in from the point that Slukynsky stopped, but Shane Lachance, stationed in front of the net, knocked the rebound in at 10:42. Western Michigan’s challenge for goalie interference was denied, and the goal stood.
Knuble came close to again giving Western Michigan a two-goal lead at 14:54, but the puck clanged off the right post. BU got its second power play of the game 46 seconds later when Henricks went off for slashing at 15:40.
After Western Michigan killed it off, Devin Kaplan was whistled for kneeing at 18:14, putting the Broncos back on the power play, but they could not capitalize despite several good looks to close out the period.
Keith Tkachuk was the guest of honor for the ceremonial puck drop. The former Malden Catholic and Boston University standout played 18 seasons in the NHL, nine in St. Louis. In 1,201 games, “Big Walt” collected 538 goals, 1,065 points, and 2,219 minutes in penalties. Introduced as “a St. Louis hockey legend”, Tkachuk got a nice ovation from the Enterprise Center crowd.
Follow Andrew Mahoney @GlobeMahoney.
