When the opportunity presented itself to join Western Michigan before the 2023-24 season, it was a place that “felt like home,” and a place where Bump believed those dreams could become a reality.

The Prior Lake native got a taste of the tournament last March as the Broncos played in the Maryland Heights Regional, where they fell to Michigan State in overtime.

However, the Broncos are back in the dance again, this time with loftier expectations. WMU won the Penrose Cup as NCHC regular-season champs, won the conference tournament in overtime and the Broncos head into the Fargo Regional as the nation’s No. 4 overall seed.

As he’s done all season, Bump is playing a key role in their success.

“These are the type of games you grow up thinking about playing in yourself one day and everyone’s goal is to be playing games in March,” Bump said. “So I’m really excited for it and want to do my part as a leader and a player, and we just want to take it one game at a time and be the best version of ourselves.”

Alex Bump looks at the puck after he shot it into the net 22 seconds into double overtime to defeat Denver in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, 2025 at Xcel Energy Center. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Bump and the Broncos are averaging an NCAA-best 4.1 goals per game and allow just 2.1 – which ranks fifth. They’ve lost in regulation just four times all season and WMU is 19-3-0 since the calendar flipped to 2025.

They’ll face Minnesota State at 4 p.m. on Thursday. With a win, WMU will play either Minnesota or UMass on Saturday with a Frozen Four berth on the line. This is WMU’s fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

“We’re obviously excited to still be playing and believe we have a group that can do something special, but I think we’re all just trying to focus on ourselves right now and control what we can,” Bump said. “We’re not trying to get ahead of ourselves and worry about who we could potentially be playing or anything. We’re just focused on the next day, but we’ve got a really excited group and we’re ready to go.”

As for Bump individually, the sophomore forward leads the team in goals (23), points (46), power-play goals (7) and is a plus-9. The Philadelphia Flyers pick (2022, 5th) also has fired an NCAA-leading 225 shots at opposing goalies – 44 more than the next closest player.

“His numbers are tremendous, but honestly, they’re still way lower than his quality of play, and it’s not even close,” said Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler. “This kid’s been a superstar every game this season and if a few plays here and there got finished, he’d easily have 65 or 70 points, and he’s been spectacular. His shots on goal are off the charts, his vision is excellent, he’s dynamic with the puck on his stick and has dynamic hands, and he just thinks the game at such a high level.

“I think the most important thing he’s done this year though is take his compete to an entirely different level. He was a great player last year as a freshman, but he’s taken so many steps in year two and it’s been incredible to watch.”

Bump is impressive in many ways
Ferschweiler added that Bump’s personality immediately impressed him on the recruiting trail and he’s continued to emerge as a leader. He’s wearing a letter this winter as an assistant captain. The numbers speak for themselves, too, and the left-shot forward offers his team skill, play-making ability and an elite hockey IQ.

Bump has also scored several timely goals of late. He netted the overtime winner last Saturday at Xcel Energy Center and scored three times at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, which landed him MVP honors.

He has 16 points (11-5-16) over his past 12 games.

“He’s played the same way the entire year,” Ferschweiler said. “Some more pucks have started to go in the second half of the year and his linemates have elevated their games too, but he’s been the same player since the start. If you watched our first three or four games, he could’ve easily left those games with 15 points. It just didn’t go in for him.

“He came into camp ready and his play showed that, and he just stuck with it. He had zero frustration, just determination, and the quality of play has been there all season.”

Alex Bump leads Western Michigan in goals, points and power-play goals this season. He was defended during the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship by Minnesota Wild prospect Zeev Buium from the University of Denver. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Bump’s 2024-25 season follows a 2023-24 campaign that yielded 14 goals, 36 points and a spot on the NCHC All-Rookie Team.

“Last year was an adjustment, but I think I’ve made a big jump this year and just try to keep getting better every day,” Bump said. “You expect to get better each year as a player and the coaching staff does such a great job putting you in a spot to do so, and there’s so many great people to listen to and learn from here so you can be successful.”

So what’s led to that success?

“I’ve played with two great linemates and they’ve made it easy for me, and I think that’s been a big part of it,” Bump said. “We’re a fast line and we like to get up and down the ice, and we use our transition game well.

“I think my transition is one of the strengths of my game, so that’s been a big piece of it too, and I’ve had a lot of confidence shooting the puck. But I know I’ve put in the work to be here and get to this point, and my confidence has only kept growing throughout the year.”

Now the hope is Bump can do more of the same and lead Western Michigan on a deep postseason run.

“He comes to the rink every day with a smile on his face and he just loves hockey,” Ferschweiler said. “You probably think every kid loves hockey but the reality is they don’t. Alex is someone that plays because he loves the sport and he’s always determined to get better.

“So when you combine that determination with his play-making ability, work ethic and his compete level, he checks a lot of boxes. He’s someone that thrives in these types of environments and big games too, so we’re excited to see what he can do the rest of the way.”

The post Bump Leads The Broncos appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — If there’s one thing that Alex Bump definitely does well, it’s scoring goals at Xcel Energy Center.  

Denver players Kent Anderson (left) and Zeev Buium (middle) celebrate one of their three second-period goals. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

For the Pioneers, who won last year’s Frozen Faceoff on their way to a national championship, it was a tough ending as they held what appeared to be a secure lead going into the third.  

Alex Bump scores the overtime-winner 22 seconds into the second OT period while being defended by Denver’s Zeev Buium. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

Early in the second, Western still stayed in control, but then the Pioneers caught fire. At 5:46, DU got on the scoreboard on a goal by Jake Fisher. After Slukynsky stopped Samu Salminen’s shot, the rebound went right to Fisher, who tapped it into an open net to make it 1-0.  

Western Michigan players celebrate their NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, 2025. (MHM Photo / Rick Olson)

“That is a huge hill to climb, down 3-0 to Denver in the third,” Ferschweiler said. “That’s such a great hockey team, and they’re so dangerous. But I thought our players were getting better throughout the game and there was lots of belief in that locker room. We just talked about being urgent from the first shift on and not waiting ’til the end to try to press. We couldn’t. We had to get three goals, not one goal.

“Then the big-time play by Liam Valente to pull up and find Zack Sharp, who calmly buries it under the bar, and you could feel ‘Okay, the belief was there.’ This is a confident group. The belief is always there, but then you could just feel the momentum build, and I just thought we got better and better and better even throughout the overtime.” 

The post Broncos Answer The Last Call appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

However, another set are hoping to add their names to the list next season in Tanner and Ty Henricks.

Tanner, an 18-year-old defenseman, is currently in his second USHL season with the Lincoln Stars and is a St. Cloud State commit. Ty, a 19-year-old forward, is one of 10 freshmen on Western Michigan’s roster and has played in 12 games this season – scoring once and adding a trio of assists.

While both are focused on their current seasons, they’d be lying if either said the thought of a sibling showdown hasn’t crossed their minds.

“Me and my brother have been dreaming about this since we first touched the ice, and I feel like it’ll be a dream come true,” Tanner said. “We got to play twice last year (in the USHL) and it was great, but we’ve both always wanted to play college hockey and to hopefully play against each other the next few years will be awesome.”

Added Ty, who is the older brother by 13 months: “It’ll be exciting, and I know we’re both looking forward to it. Obviously, you love competing with your brother, and I’ll probably give him a couple tough hits – But in all seriousness, it’s going to be special for our family.”

Ty Henricks made his NCAA debut on Oct. 11 against Ferris State and has played in all 12 of Western Michigan’s games. “I could not be more excited to have Ty Henricks as a Bronco,” said Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler. “Ty has size, hands, hockey sense and is taking steps every day toward becoming a great college player. His coachability and work ethic will allow him to live his dream of playing pro hockey.” (Photo courtesy of Kayla Schuberth / Western Michigan Athletics)

California natives moved to the State of Hockey
It’s a matchup that’s played out countless times in the backyard and on youth hockey rinks, along with numerous summer skates.

As Tanner mentioned, the two played last season in the USHL, too. Tanner and Ty were with Lincoln and Muskegon, respectively, and split their two-game set in late January.

Both look forward to competing again, this time at college hockey’s highest level. But while they’re fierce competitors, the reality is they’re also each other’s biggest supporters.

“I love him to death, and I wouldn’t want anyone else as my brother,” said Ty, who added the two usually talk at least four times a week. “He’s a great player, great person, and I couldn’t be happier to see where he’s at in his career.

“He’s followed what I’ve done for a long time, but he’s also got his own path and works really hard. I know we’re both happy to see each other succeed and be where we are today.”

The two grew up in California, playing roller and ice hockey, before moving to Minnesota in 2016. They played baseball and flag football back home before focusing predominantly on hockey.

The brothers were 10 and 11 at the time of the move and spent roughly six years living in the State of Hockey, and both echoed how thankful they are to their parents for the experience. Tanner is looking forward to returning to the state at SCSU too.

Tanner Henricks played in 59 games during his USHL rookie campaign. “It was a big jump last season, especially with the speed and strength of guys, but I feel like my teammates and coaches really helped me and pushed me to get better,” he said. “They didn’t take it easy on me, and I’m really thankful for that, and I think that’s helped me a lot this season.” (Photo courtesy of Brandon Anderson / Lincoln Stars)

Although their father, Scott, grew up watching hockey in Chicago, Tanner and Ty are the first two members of their family to ever play the game. Ty started skating at age 5 and Tanner followed suit just a few weeks later, as he joked he “got jealous” and wanted to try the sport himself.

Their careers have eerily similar paths, too, from Shattuck-St. Mary’s back home to the Anaheim Ducks AAA program and into the USHL. Both are also now NHL Draft picks – Ty going in 2023 (New York Rangers, sixth round) and Tanner following this past summer (Columbus, fourth round).

They’ve been there for each other every step of the way and Ty will once again get to play the role of big brother next fall when it’s Tanner’s turn to make the jump to college.

“I think it’s been a big thing for both of us, because we’ve been able to lean on each other not just as brothers, but also hockey players,” Ty said. “Tanner talks to me all the time and we can ask each other questions when we’re struggling or just want to talk about games and bounce stuff off each other, and I think that’s part of why our relationship is so good.

“We can talk hockey and we can talk life, and at the end of the day, we’re brothers and best friends.”

Leaning on each other
Having someone in your corner with first-hand experience is never a bad thing either – especially leading up to something like the NHL draft.

“He was a big help and we talked a lot throughout the process,” Tanner said. “There’s stuff during the season we talked about, but even after a few (pre-draft) interviews, I asked him a couple of the questions to see if he got asked anything similar or what he’d say. He was just always there if I needed him and really helped me through the process.”

Tanner Henricks has two goals, five assists and is a minus-4 to open his second USHL season. “I thought he played his best hockey of the year last year in the playoffs, but he’s playing with a lot more confidence this year,” said Lincoln coach Rocky Russo. “His gaps have gotten better, he’s trusting his feet more and as a second-year player, it’s hard, because you put more pressure and expectations on yourself. But I think Tanner’s done a good job of handling everything. (Photo courtesy of Sammy Miller / Lincoln Stars)

While they might not have thought much of it over the years, the brothers playing different positions from each other has also been a blessing in disguise.

“It’s nice because with me being a forward and him being a (defenseman), we’ve always been able to go one-on-one and go against each other,” Ty said. “I think that brings out the competitive side of us, but it also helps each other, and I think we’ve been able to work on things and help each other out.”

As the holidays creep closer and both the USHL and NCAA seasons near their break, the two are looking forward to getting back together. Tanner and Ty last saw each other in early September but will get a chance to head home for Christmas.

Sure, some friendly jabs and banter will be thrown back-and-forth. At the end of the day, it’s what comes with being brothers. But the time also gives them a chance to bond and reflect on where they’re at in their budding careers.

No matter what happens the next few years and beyond, the two will forever be linked by the name on the back of their jerseys, and they wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Every time I step on the ice I’m doing it for my family, and I know Ty has the same mindset,” Tanner said. “Our parents especially sacrificed so much and put us in a position to be where we are today, and I know we’ll forever be thankful for that.

“They gave everything for us, so we want to do the same and make everyone in our family proud. And I know both of us have put in a lot of work to get where we are and we’re always rooting for each other.”

The post The Henricks Connection appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.