GameCenter final: Western Michigan 7, UND 6

Jan. 14—GRAND FORKS — Western Michigan forward Luke Grainger tallied six points as the Broncos hung seven goals on UND goalie Kaleb Johnson making his first collegiate start. The Broncos finished off a two-game sweep.

First star: Luke Grainger, WMU, 2 goals, 4 assists.

Second star: Chad Hillebrand, WMU, 1 goal, 1 assist.

Third star: Chris Jandric, UND, 1 goal, 2 assists.

UND 1, WMU 0 — Cooper Moore (Owen McLaughlin, Luke Bast) 1:55 (pp). Jackson Blake draws a power play just 51 seconds into the game and UND's second unit stays hot. Moore gets the puck at the point and threads a shot through a Judd Caulfield screen for his third goal of the season.

UND 2, WMU 0 — Jackson Kunz (Ben Strinden, Griffin Ness) 9:44. Kunz starts the sequence by beating out an icing call. Then Chris Jandric gets involved by taking a Broncos player off the puck as he was attempting to exit the zone. The puck gets to Ness, whose shot is stopped. Strinden pokes the rebound behind Broncos goalie Camerone Rowe. Kunz outbattles Carter Berger to get to the puck and put it in.

UND 2, WMU 1 — Cole Gallant (Tim Washe, Luke Grainger) 12:38. Just as Luke Bast is exiting the penalty box, the Broncos get one back. Washe gets the puck at the goal line and pops a pass out to Gallant, who gets two whacks at it. He puts the second one just inside the post.

UND 2, WMU 2 — Luke Grainger 17:06. Grainger picks off a puck along the wall, skates it into the circle, dangles around Luke Bast and roofs a backhand from the slot.

UND 3, WMU 2 — Riese Gaber (Chris Jandric, Jackson Blake) 19:25 (pp). UND's change to the top unit — moving Gaber from the right side to the middle — works on UND's third chance of the period. Jandric's shot is blocked in front, but Gaber picks up the rebound, turns around and snipes the corner of the net.

UND 4, WMU 2 — Chris Jandric (Riese Gaber, Owen McLaughlin) 1:14. UND once again gets bodies to the net and is rewarded for it. Jandric funnels a puck to the crease area to start a scramble. Gaber's top-of-the-crease attempt is stopped by Rowe, but Jandric hammers it from the side of the net. Jackson Blake gets his stick on it, but statisticians rule that the puck had crossed the goal line when Blake touched it.

UND 5, WMU 2 — Luke Bast (Cooper Moore, Judd Caulfield) 13:15 (pp). UND gets its third power-play goal of the night as Moore sets up Bast for a one-timer in the right circle. Bast buries it five-hole on Rowe for his first goal of the season.

UND 5, WMU 3 — Luke Grainger (Cole Gallant, Zak Galambos) 14:32 (pp). UND goes on a rush shorthanded and Louis Jamernik V tries to hit Judd Caulfield driving the net, but his pass is broken up and the Broncos go the other way four-on-two. It ends up in the back of the net when Grainger buries it from the slot.

UND 5, WMU 4 — Chad Hillebrand (Carter Berger, Luke Grainger) 15:59. Berger has the puck at the point and launches a shot. Johnson leaves a bad rebound and Hillebrand picks it up and roofs it to make it a one-goal game.

UND 5, WMU 5 — Tim Washe (Luke Grainger, Aidan Fulp) 14:19 (pp). Grainger gets Point No. 5 of the night when he sends a shot toward the net that Washe tips past Johnson.

WMU 6, UND 5 — Hugh Larkin (Jack Perbix, Jacob Bauer) 14:36. Perbix steps around UND defenseman Cooper Moore at the blue line to start a two-on-one rush. Perbix makes the pass and Larkin has an easy finish.

WMU 6, UND 6 — Ethan Frisch (Jackson Blake, Chris Jandric) 15:51 (pp). The Fighting Hawks score their fourth power-play goal of the night on a tremendous play by Blake, who dangles through defenders and feeds Frisch in the other circle. Frisch puts it away for his third of the season.

WMU 7, UND 6 — Carter Berger (Luke Grainger, Chad Hillebrand) 17:06. Western Michigan comes right back down and scores its seventh of the night. Grainger gets Point No. 6 when he lifts Luke Bast's stick and feeds Berger in the high slot.

Forwards

10 Gavin Hain—27 Louis Jamernik V—19 Mark Senden

17 Riese Gaber—22 Owen McLaughlin—9 Jackson Blake

20 Nick Portz—8 Jake Schmaltz—28 Judd Caulfield

29 Jackson Kunz—11 Griffin Ness—21 Ben Strinden

13 Carson Albrecht

Defensemen

4 Cooper Moore—15 Ethan Frisch

7 Chris Jandric—2 Ryan Sidorski

24 Luke Bast—3 Ty Farmer

Goaltenders

1 Kaleb Johnson

34 Drew DeRidder

32 Jakob Hellsten

Not in lineup: D Tyler Kleven (NCHC suspension), F Dane Montgomery (upper body), F Dylan James, F Matteo Costantini, D Brent Johnson

Forwards

8 Ryan McAllister—34 Max Sasson—14 Jason Polin

10 Chad Hillebrand—9 Luke Grainger—12 Cole Gallant

37 Dylan Wendt—25 Jack Perbix—28 Hugh Larkin

20 Jamie Rome—16 Tim Washe—19 Cam Knuble

18 Wyatt Schingoethe—22 Trevor Bishop

Defensemen

17 Cedric Fiedler—4 Zak Galambos

23 Carter Berger—24 Aidan Fulp

15 Daniel Hilsendager—2 Jacob Bauer

Goaltenders

31 Cameron Rowe

1 Kirk Laursen

Not in lineup, on trip: F Ethan Wolthers and either Bishop or Schingoethe

Not on trip: F Theo Thrun, F Oliver MacDonald, F Cole Burtch, F Barrett Brooks, D Samuel Sjolund (ineligible), D Lucas Matta, G Will Hambley

Kaleb Johnson will be making his first start in 600 days. His last one came on May 25, 2021, when he played for the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League. . . The last time Johnson made a start in Ralph Engelstad Arena was Feb. 24, 2018, when he backstopped Grand Forks Central to a state title. Johnson was named tournament MVP. . . Drew DeRidder is listed as the backup and Jakob Hellsten as third string. . . Tyler Kleven is out,

serving a one-game NCHC-imposed suspension

for his major on Friday night. . . Jackson Kunz, Carson Albrecht and Griffin Ness are back in the lineup. Dylan James and Matteo Costantini are out. . . The Broncos will warm up with an extra as they usually do.