No. 8 Western Michigan beat Ferris State 5-1 on Friday, Oct. 9, at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, spoiling the Bulldogs’ home opener before 2,245 fans. Adam Benák assisted on four of the Broncos’ goals as Western Michigan improved to 2-0-0. Ferris State is 0-3-1.
Scoring
Zaccharya Wisdom opened the scoring on the power play at 4:19 of the first period, from Michael Neumeier and Benák, and Bobby Cowan made it 2-0 at 10:59, with Benák and Wisdom assisting. Joona Väisänen pushed the lead to three at 6:49 of the second, from Benák and Alex Calbeck.
Ferris State got on the board at 11:11 of the second when Adyn Merrick scored on the power play, assisted by Nicholas Johnson and Nathan Mackie. Zach Nehring restored the three-goal cushion at 9:56 of the third, from Theo Wallberg and Colby Woogk, and William Whitelaw closed the scoring at 18:15, with Benák and Cowan assisting. Wisdom, Cowan, and Nehring all scored their first goals of the season, and Whitelaw and Väisänen each scored in both games of the weekend.
Goalies and numbers
Quentin Miller made 21 saves on 22 shots for Western Michigan. Alan Lendak stopped 36 of 41 for Ferris State. The Broncos outshot the Bulldogs 41-22 and won 36 faceoffs to Ferris State’s 24. Western Michigan went 1-for-7 on the power play, and Ferris State was 1-for-3. Benák’s four assists gave the Broncos their first three-assist-plus game since Ty Henricks had three against Michigan on Oct. 25, 2025.
What’s next
Western Michigan hosts Notre Dame at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m. on NCHC.tv before playing at Notre Dame on Oct. 17.
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