Three Western Michigan players swept the NCHC’s first weekly awards of the 2026-27 season on Tuesday. Junior defenseman Joona Väisänen was named Defenseman of the Week, sophomore goaltender Quentin Miller was named Goaltender of the Week, and freshman forward Adam Benák was named Rookie of the Week after the Broncos swept Ferris State on Oct. 8-9.
Väisänen, who missed most of last season with an injury, had a goal and two assists in the season opener at Lawson Arena, matching his career high with three points. He scored again the next night in Big Rapids and led the Broncos with four points on the weekend.
Miller was nearly perfect in his Western Michigan debut weekend, stopping 47 of 48 shots for a .979 save percentage. The Montreal native made 24 saves in an opening-night shutout, his first win and first shutout with the program, then turned aside 21 shots in a 5-1 win at Ferris State. The Broncos’ penalty kill went 10-for-11 across the two games.
Benák collected four assists in Friday’s win at Ferris State. He became the first Bronco with a four-point game since Alex Bump on Jan. 24, 2025, and the first with four assists in a game since Chad Hillebrand on Oct. 21, 2023. He is the only freshman in the country with a four-point game so far this season.
Western Michigan, which is playing its final season at Lawson Arena, climbed to No. 6 in this week’s national polls. Mitten Hockey’s series wrap of the Ferris State weekend has more on the opening sweep.
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