The Broncos program began in 1973 and joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) for the 1975–76 season. After ten seasons in the league Western Michigan won the 1986 CCHA Playoff Tournament and advanced to the school's first NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament in 1986.[3] The 1986 season marked the program's first CCHA Tournament Championship and the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament.[4] The Broncos entered the tournament in the West Regional against Harvard and lost the two-game aggregate series, being outscored 11–4 by the Crimson.[5]
Western Michigan's next post season appearance came in 1994. Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 1994 NCAA Division I Tournament and again fell in the first round with a 6–3 loss to Wisconsin.[6]
The Broncos rebounded in the 1995–96 season after a sub-.500 season in 1994–95. Western Michigan received the program's second at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. Western Michigan lost again in the first round to Clarkson 6–1.[7]
Under first-year coach Jeff Blashill, Western Michigan received an at-large bid to the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, where they would lose their opening game 3–2 in double overtime to Denver. Denver scored two goals in the last 4:29 of the third period to force overtime.[8]
In 2011–12, for the second consecutive season, Western Michigan had a new head coach and reached the NCAA tournament. Longtime National Hockey League (NHL) coach Andy Murray was named as coach of the Broncos after Blashill left for the Detroit Red Wings.[9] WMU finished tied for second in the CCHA and won the CCHA tournament, thereby receiving an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.[10] Western Michigan lost in the first round of the tournament 3–1 to No. 1 seed North Dakota.[11]
Western Michigan won the 2013 four-team Great Lakes Invitational which was played outdoors at Comerica Park in Detroit. The Broncos defeated No. 3 Michigan 3–2 in overtime in the semifinals, and then claimed the championship by beating Michigan Tech 1–0, also in overtime. WMU won the 2014 Shillelagh Tournament with an 8–2 victory over No. 17 Union. The Broncos also defeated Ohio State in the first round of the tournament, 6–2.
In 2016–17, the Broncos followed up a disappointing 8-25-3 season with an impressive 22-13-5 and a third-place finish in the NCHC. Western Michigan was invited to the final Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena, where they defeated Michigan Tech in the championship. WMU has been invited to the GLI 5 times dating back to 1977, winning it 3 of those times. The Broncos were defeated in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Division I tournament by Air Force.
In 2021-2022, Western Michigan had a legendary season for the program under Pat Ferschweiler as head coach. The broncos shared the 2021 Great Lakes Invitational championship by defeating Michigan State. The broncos managed to obtain 26 wins defeating teams the likes of No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 St. Cloud State, and defeated No. 10 North Dakota in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Semi-Finals to advance their first (NCHC) championship game. Western Michigan clinched their first-ever 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and would win their first-ever playoff game by defeating the Northeastern Huskies to advance to their first ever regional championship appearance. They would be defeated by Minnesota 3-0.
Great Lakes Invitational Tournament
The Western Michigan Broncos have a tremendous history of competing in the annual Great Lakes Invitational Tournament. Their tradition with the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament extends back to their days at the Joe Louis Arena. Since their first appearance in 1977, the Broncos have appeared in 8 Great Lakes Invitational Tournaments and have won the championship five times. Western Michigan defeated the Michigan Wolverines to clinch their first ever Great Lakes Invitational Championship. After a 25-year hiatus, the broncos returned to the Great Lakes Invitational tournament in 2012. They lost 4-0 to the Michigan Tech Huskies in the final of the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament.
WMU bounced back the next year in 2013 to defeat No. 3 Michigan Wolverines 3-2 in overtime of the first round. They moved on to defeat Michigan Tech 1-0 in a thrilling rematch of the 2012 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament. The 2013 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament took place outdoors at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.
In the 2016 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament, WMU defeated the Michigan State Spartans 4-1. WMU took down MTU in the final to clinch their 3rd Great Lakes Invitational.
The 2021 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament was put on hold after the Michigan Wolverines couldn't participate in the tournament. Western Michigan defeated Michigan State in a showcase game 3-1 on December 29, 2021 at Munn Ice Arena.
The broncos dominated the 2022 Great Lakes Invitational Tournament. The broncos defeated Michigan Tech 8-1 in the first round. WMU went on to defeat the Ferris State Bulldogs 8-2 to clinch their 5th Great Lakes Invitational Championship.
No. 5 WMU defeated Michigan Tech 4-3 in a overtime thriller. Which set up No. 5 WMU vs No. 3 MSU for the Great Lakes Invitational Championship. Western Michigan lost the game 3-1, WMU's Samuel Sjolund and Alex Bump received Great Lakes Invitational All-Tournament team honors.
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
The following is a list of people associated with the Western Michigan men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Western Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame.[15]
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