The Broncos will meanwhile celebrate the most successful season in program history. Western Michigan led the nation with 33 wins and won the NCHC regular-season title before making it to the program's first championship game appearance thanks to a double-overtime national semifinal win over Denver.

Michaels’ wrist shot past BU goalie Mikhail Yegorov gave the Broncos a 4-2 third-period lead, and freshman goalie Hampton Slukynsky – despite having the yips at times on shots that were never quite frozen under his pads, leading to two goals and two near-goals – hung on, allowing his team to add two late goals.