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04/12/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2025 20:23

BU Men’s Hockey Falls in National Championship Game

BU Men's Hockey Falls in National Championship Game

Terriers lose 6-2 to Western Michigan, ending hopes of a sixth NCAA title

Boston University teammates, goalie Mikhail Yegorov (CAS'28) (center) and Sascha Boumedienne (CAS'28), keeping their eyes on a play unfolding during the NCAA National Championship game at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis April 12. The Terriers made an unlikely, but valiant run to the championship following an up-and-down season. Photo by Dan Garcia

Varsity Sports

BU Men's Hockey Falls in National Championship Game

Terriers lose 6-2 to Western Michigan, ending hopes of a sixth NCAA title

April 12, 2025
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The Boston University men's hockey team fell just short of claiming its sixth National Championship Saturday night.

The Terriers, who endured a roller-coaster season that included an impressive run leading up to the NCAA title game, couldn't overpower Western Michigan. The Broncos (34-7-1) defeated BU (24-14-2) 6-2 and claimed their first National Championship at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

"It's tough to put into words how this feels, especially for our players," head coach Jay Pandolfo (CAS'96) said postgame. "It's hard to get here, and clearly we know it's very hard to win this last game, but I'm really proud of them. This is tough to swallow."

The Terriers were playing in their 12th national title game, a stark contrast to the Broncos who had advanced to their first-ever Frozen Four, playing for the university's first national title across any sport in 60 years.

It didn't take long for the high-motor Broncos to get on the board. Western Michigan's Iiro Hakkarainen flicked the puck on net, and linemate Wyatt Schingoethe redirected it past goaltender Mikhail Yegorov (CAS'28) for an early 1-0 lead.

Western Michigan's Tim Washe firing a shot at Mikhail Yegorov during the National Championship game. The Broncos claimed their first NCAA title in program history. Photo by Matt Woolverton/BU Athletics

The goal, scored just 1:38 seconds into the game, sent a charge into the Broncos fanbase, who traveled in droves down to St. Louis to cheer on the team.

The slow starts that plagued BU all season didn't affect the team Saturday as the Terriers broke through less than six minutes later. Devin Kaplan (SHA'26) fired a shot on Western Michigan goaltender Hampton Slukynsky. The freshman made the initial save, but Cole Eiserman (CAS'28) kept hammering the puck until it leaked past the goal line at 7:12.

Eiserman netted his 25th tally of the season and fourth of the NCAA tournament.

The Broncos then worked a three-on-one rush. The Terriers fended it off and attempted to clear the puck. However, Western Michigan defenseman Cole Crusberg-Roseen was in the way and sniped it past Yegorov to retake the lead 2-1, at 15:01.

Western Michigan started the second frame with a strong push. Just over five minutes in, Cam Knuble crashed in towards the BU net, taking a point-blank shot. Yegorov made the first save, but the rebound found Ty Hendricks, who scooped it in with ease at 5:18, for a 3-2 advantage.

Nick Rouounakis (Questrom'28), who played well throughout the game, drove in on the Western net on a breakaway, drawing a holding penalty. Western's Grant Slukynsky went to the box at 10:26.

BU desperately needed a goal, and power plays were one of the best ways the team knew to get them. Seconds into the man-advantage, cocaptain Ryan Greene (COM'26) rifled a shot from the point. The puck was loose behind Hampton Slukynsky, and cocaptain Shane Lachance (SHA'27) whacked it through to inch the Terriers closer at 10:42.

"I'm extremely proud of our group," Lachance said postgame. "I'm not sure if anyone thought we were going to be here. We always did."

Shane Lachance (SHA'27) celebrating his goal during the second period of the National Championship game Saturday. Lachance's goal was the Terriers' second. Photo by Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images

The second period ended 3-2, and BU nearly tied it less than four minutes into the frame on a play from Cole Hutson (CAS'28).

The Terriers kept pushing. The team played their best hockey of the night, dominating possession and sending shot after shot at Slukynsky.

Then, on one offensive possession about seven minutes into the third period, Hutson lost the puck on a shot attempt. The Broncos created a two-on-one rush off the turnover, and Owen Michaels, the tournament MVP, scored on the breakaway. The goal, at 7:16, gave Western Michigan a 4-2 advantage.

"Western Michigan's well coached, they're a heavy team, they play hard," Pandolfo said. "We were pushing really hard there. We were getting our chances and the puck was not going in the net. They end up getting a break, and they make it 4-2."

The Terriers nearly got one back on a play from Roukounakis and Copponi, but it was ruled no goal after review.

Hakkarainen scored a goal at 16:05, and Michaels found the empty net at 17:52.

As the buzzer sounded, the Broncos had claimed their first national title.

"It's special to win this thing, and I want to see our guys experience that," Pandolfo said, following the Terriers' loss. "We're going to keep knocking on the door."

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