Slubowski gets the win as part of WMU Broncos Saturday victory over Denver

Prince Rupert's Frank Slubowski finally cracked the win column again in NCAA hockey this weekend, as the former PRMHA grad shut down the high powered Denver Pioneers hockey program, helping the Broncos claim the 6-3 victory in a Colorado showdown on Saturday evening.

Facing 38 shots on the sixty minutes, Slubowski shut the door 35 times as the Pioneers attack kept coming into the Bronco end, the bulk of his work was found in periods one and two where he handled 28 of the 35 shots on the night.

The victory gives Slubowski a 1 and 2 record so far in the young NCAA season. His appearance in Sunday's game also should provide him with a confidence boost for the season going ahead, not only with the victory on the ice, but on the depth chart of the Broncos.

Saturday marked the first start for the Rupertite since October 18th, during the October 23/24 home stand against Alaska, head coach Andy Murray had been riding the hot hand of the Broncos' Lukas Hafner in the nets.

Hafner again started for the Broncos this past weekend with a Friday night appearance, though his teammates let the ice breaker of the two game series get away from them, as Denver battled back to claim the 5-4 victory on Friday.

Western Michigan learned a few lessons from letting Saturday's game get away from them, as the Bronco's offence provided a three goal cushion in the first period for Slubowski, who stopped any potential Pioneer comeback before it could gain any momentum.

Not that there weren't some tense moments in the second period, particularly when Denver put the pressure on the Bronco's peppering Slubowski with a number of shots.

However, through the flurry of action, the Brnonco's managed to hold off the Denver attack, with WMU picking up goals in the second and third to secure the 6-3 victory.

The win marks the first win for the Bronco's in their NCHC conference action, the remainder of their victories on the year came in non-conference match ups.

You can review the box score from Saturday's game here.

The Broncos return to Kalamazoo for their next action, with St. Cloud State pulling into Western Michigan for a two game series starting on Friday night.

Some accounts of the Saturday match up can be found below:

Broncos Win Big Over No. 10/12 Denver
Denver Falls to Western Michigan
WMU hockey beats Denver, 6-3, for first NCHC win of season
DU Pioneers' rally falls short in loss to Western Michigan

For more on Frank Slubwski's season at WMU and to learn more about other Prince Rupert athletes in other sports across North America see our archive page here.