KALAMAZOO, MI –– The Western Michigan Broncos are the NCAA hockey national champions — and the Lawson Lunatics are soaking it in.

The Broncos defeated Boston University 6-2 in the NCAA national championship in St. Louis on Saturday, April 12.

“We weren’t going to lose that hockey game, no chance,” WMU coach Pat Ferschweiler said on TV seconds after the final horn.

It’s WMU hockey’s first title in program history.

MORE: National champs! Western Michigan hockey’s dream season ends with first title

Fans exploded with joy in St. Louis and throughout Kalamazoo as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

See video, below, from St. Louis as WMU clinched the title.

WMU hosted a watch party at Read Fieldhouse, which was among of number of watch parties back home in Kalamazoo.

Fans filled Read Fieldhouse, the streets of campus, Niskers Char-Grill & Slap Shot Hockey Bar and other bars and restaurants around town to see the big game.

Here’s footage from the final horn at Niskers, as fans celebrated with cheers and shots.

See video of the pre-game atmosphere at Niskers and Read Fieldhouse, below.

This is WMU’s first athletic national championship in any sport since 1965, when the men’s cross country team won back-to-back titles (1964 and 1965). WMU finished runner-up in 1955 for baseball and 1958 for men’s cross country.

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