The Western Michigan University hockey team returned to their hometown of Kalamazoo as champions Sunday, with hundreds gathered outside Lawson Ice Arena to cheer them on. The team won the national championship title with a 6-2 victory over Boston University on Saturday.
Young fans like Kolten Hoy and Mac Griffiths, both 10, were among those lining up to meet the team. “I’ve been a fan my whole life,” said Hoy, a fellow practice partner of Griffiths who also attends the same Kalamazoo rink where the Broncos train.
Team captain Tim Washe gave brief thanks to the crowd from the podium, saying “Bronco Nation’s the best. It’s a special school. This is for everyone here.” Fans like Chuck Dietz and his wife Marilyn, who have supported the team through tough times, were overjoyed with the win.
For Anela Binkowski, who graduated from Western Michigan in 2019, seeing her alma mater on the national stage was a thrilling experience. “Hockey had always been my favorite sport to watch,” she said. The team’s hard work and determination paid off, with Hart saying “I think they’ve worked so hard this year and, honestly, where there’s a will there’s a way. They wanted it and they got it.”
Source: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/13/western-michigan-hockey-team-gets-enthusiastic-homecoming-after-ncaa-championship/83073267007