The unofficial online home for fans of the Western Michigan University Broncos. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(01-18-2012 09:09 AM)Broncodan Wrote:  Sorry to cause so much stir guys.......just trying to get everyone excited about this year's team and how far Bronco hockey has come along in just over a year, and that it looks like to be heading back on track for years to come.

AMEN!

Broncodan, glad that you have climbed aboard. I hope that you stay around and continue to contribute to the board.

I'm excited about the hockey Broncos, and was just as excited after watching the first game in person once Jeff Blashill was behind the bench. This fan watched a team that was playing good hockey, regardless of the results, I could see that the work along the boards, passing and effort were elevated. I see that progess again this year under Coach Murray.

Those that know me will attest that I'm always aboard the train whenever it leaves the station and I stay aboard. I believe in the glass is half full. I look forward to sharing stories with you.

I talked with a players parent about his visit to the new Notre Dame arena last Friday. I was delighted to hear him say, "it was a beautyful place, but the atmosphere was lacking, as they did not sense any students in the crowd". Our Lawson Lunatics make WMU a great place for the players, and I hope that they continue the trend, and come up with clever cheers, to the delight of this long time hockey fan.

Always proud to be a Bronco.

Thanks Acer, I was a die-hard Lunatic from 2006-2010, attending every game possible, even when we went 8-30 or whatever it was, and were one of the worst teams in college hockey/CCHA. I have never stopped supporting this team and never will, seeing this team in the Joe last year and in the NCAA tourney was incredible! I got to attend game 1 of the FSU playoff series last year, in which the Broncos lost 3-1 :\ I then had to come back to Houston, wish I could have stayed for games 2 and 3, especially 3 with Campbell's OT winner. Out of my four years being a student at WMU, the best hockey years were in 2006, (Szczechura, Lovechio) we were a top 4 team, finished in 4th, then choked against UAF at home in the first round of the CCHA playoffs in 3 games. Then in 2009, when we beat LSSU in 3 games in the first round of the CCHA playoffs at home, the year that Riley Gill stole so many games where he would stop 50 and we would tie Miami 1-1, also that year that Pat Galivan won the CCHA regular season scoring title.

I agree with Lawson being the best student section and atmosphere in all of college hockey. My senior year in high school I took a college visit up to WMU, I had already gotten in, and I knew we had a D1 CCHA college hockey team, and my first ever game I went to the Broncos played Notre Dame, it was a packed house, saw the student section and I was sold, not just on this basis, but the campus had such an awesome feeling, everything was accessable, and I felt really at home at WMU. (I feel like a recruit) LOL

Anyways, Ive seen Bronco hockey during the bad times and now the good times, and its just so awesome to see this team ranked in the top 10 in the country, and no longer a CCHA doormat

They finished 6th and choked to Alaska. Last year was the first time they finished in the top 4 since like 1996.

(01-18-2012 11:00 AM)JerrySeymoursParoleOfficer Wrote:  They finished 6th and choked to Alaska. Last year was the first time they finished in the top 4 since like 1996.

Ah, the Letestu year.

(01-18-2012 11:00 AM)JerrySeymoursParoleOfficer Wrote:  They finished 6th and choked to Alaska. Last year was the first time they finished in the top 4 since like 1996.

You are right, sorry, just looked, and wow in 2007-2008, we went 8-27 LOL and were 1-16-1 on the road......WAY TO GO CULLHANE!!

(01-18-2012 11:03 AM)bronconick Wrote:  

(01-18-2012 11:00 AM)JerrySeymoursParoleOfficer Wrote:  They finished 6th and choked to Alaska. Last year was the first time they finished in the top 4 since like 1996.

Ah, the Letestu year.

Correct me if I am wrong, but he would have been a senior this year.

No. 2009-10 would have been his senior year.

(01-18-2012 11:34 AM)bronconick Wrote:  No. 2009-10 would have been his senior year.

Really, I thought this would be his 3rd year in the league...and he left after his frosh season?

According to his player profile, this is his 3rd year of playing in the NHL.

Did he only have one year of eligibility left after his first yr at WMU?

Didn't make it straight to the NHL. Two years in the AHL.

2006-07 Western Michigan University CCHA 37 24 22 46 14 (FR)
2006-07 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 3 0 0 0 0 -1 2 0 0 0 2
2007-08 Wheeling Nailers ECHL 6 1 2 3 4 0 -- -- -- -- --
2007-08 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 52 6 12 18 28 -2 12 0 3 3 0 (SO)
2008-09 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 73 24 37 61 6 12 12 2 8 10 4 (JR)
2009-10 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 10 1 0 1 2 -2 4 0 1 1 0 (SR)
2009-10 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 63 21 34 55 21 21 4 0 3 3 0
2010-11 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 64 14 13 27 13 4 7 0 1 1 0
2011-12 Pittsburgh Penguins* NHL 11 0 1 1 2 -6
2011-12 Columbus Blue Jackets* NHL 25 5 5 10 0 -6

Ah, I knew I was missing something. Apparently I have a two year gap in my memory :) I always thought he played one year in AHL, and then made a late season appearance for the Penguins during the same year.

Thanks for pointing that out :)

This wouldn't have been Letestu's senior year, but it would have been Connauton's. Imagine if we could add a player like that to our PP with DeKeyser, Witkowski, Tennyson, Brown et al already in the mix. Too bad the Wings couldn't have drafted him and let him play thru his eligibility like Levielle from MSU and Sheahan from ND.

On the upside, I think we'll have NHL teams more likely to let their players stick in college as opposed to Canadian Juniors now, between a more successful team and a coach that did spend ten years in the NHL.

(01-18-2012 01:27 PM)bronconick Wrote:  On the upside, I think we'll have NHL teams more likely to let their players stick in college as opposed to Canadian Juniors now, between a more successful team and a coach that did spend ten years in the NHL.

For sure, I'm sure there was no problem for the Wings letting Levielle or Sheahan develop under Comley and Jackson

(01-18-2012 12:14 AM)hockeydog Wrote:  Of course from what I have read over the years I would expect this kind of response, but with all due respect these honors have been posted on the Broncos site and on Mlive, so ignorance is not an excuse.

And Debbie Downer makes an appearance on the site.

A much more positive thing to do would have been to start a new thread to the announcements and celebrate and share the good news. Instead this guy chooses to turn it into a negative.
Do us a favor and go post on U-M's board instead.

LOL, I just don't get that poster unless it was one of the "usual suspects" trying to cause trouble.

LOL. After 3 1/2 years of steady support for Bronco hockey on this board and almost 1000 posts, Acer welcomes BroncoDan aboard and invites him to stick around. I almost spit up when I read that one.

(01-18-2012 09:58 PM)texasbronco1 Wrote:  LOL. After 3 1/2 years of steady support for Bronco hockey on this board and almost 1000 posts, Acer welcomes BroncoDan aboard and invites him to stick around. I almost spit up when I read that one.

Acer means well give him a break, it is hard to see from up there on that high horse(bronco).

Please BroncoDan, DON'T LEEEAAAVVE!!!

(01-18-2012 09:58 PM)texasbronco1 Wrote:  LOL. After 3 1/2 years of steady support for Bronco hockey on this board and almost 1000 posts, Acer welcomes BroncoDan aboard and invites him to stick around. I almost spit up when I read that one.

Thanks for your support TB, I have always enjoyed posting on this board and have always been a loyal bronco hockey fan through the good times and the bad, and I didnt mean for this thread to cause such a stir, was just trying to keep everyone excited about this team this season