Lawson Ice Arena, Kalamazoo MI, 13 Oct 1994 St Francis Xavier 1 2 2 -- 5 Western Michigan 1 3 2 -- 6 WMU opens the 1994-95 season with a victory. JR Kyle Millar [6-3 210] centers the #1 line and gets a hat trick in his first game for the Broncos [he transferred, but from where?]. Millar scored back-to-back goals so fast in the 2nd period that before WMU thought to take the puck out of the game [for his 1st WMU goal], he had already notched his 2nd. So, and interesting souvenir for Mr Millar...the puck that he scored his first two goals with. The X-Men were a spirited [read: chippy] bunch that were enjoyable to watch. I was impressed with Western's composure. Past Bronco teams wouldn't have taken the cheap stuff that St Francis was delivering, and it would have been an all out slugfest. I predicted a 10-3 WMU win before the game and if each team had average goaltending it would have been 10-3. Stanley Leduc was dynamite in net for the X-Men [and more hot headed than Blaine Lacher]. Brian Renfrew was no more effective than a well placed mannequin for WMU. I believe the announced shot totals were 41-18 favoring Western. Quick summary: SF scored first, WMU scored with :08 remaining in the 1st just after SF returned to full strength. WMU zipped of three more in the 2nd [Millar, Millar and a sweet shot by FR point man Steve Duke, who quarterbacks the #1 power play] to go up 4-1. I commented to a friend that I had seen WMU lose a 4-1 lead at home before [Merrimack! :-] Sure enough, it became 4-3, then 5-3, then 5-4. SF finally tied it with a few minutes remaining, but Mike Whitton jammed in the winner with :37 remaining in regulation. Shawn Zimmerman was credited with the other WMU goal. Western Michigan lines are given below: F Chris Brooks-Kyle Millar-Brian Gallentine F Mike Whitton-Jamal Mayers-Tony Code F Derek Innanen-Jeremy Brown-Carlin Nordstrom F Matt Cressman-Shawn Zimmerman-Joel Irving D Darren Maloney-Steve Duke D Brent Lovett-Jeff Rucinski D Brendan Kenny-Misha Lapin G Brian Renfrew Next up: York at Michigan tonight! John Haeussler Univ of Michigan [log in to unmask]