No. 4 UMD men sputter in NCHC opener at No. 10 Western Michigan

Friday night the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) men’s hockey team dropped their National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) opener at Western Michigan University (WMU).

Despite three late goals, the Bulldogs would suffer the 4-3 series opening loss. Kyler Kleven and Casey Gilling scored in the second period to tie it 2-2 for UMD. A third period Tanner Laderoute goal would again tie it this time 3-3. But the Broncos put in one more to seal with 4-3 win.

For Kleven, his goal was the first of his collegiate career.

The Bulldogs (5-2) will resume the search for their first NCHC win in their series finale at WMU Saturday. Puck drop is set for 6:05pm at Lawson Ice Arena.