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.

After six goals and 11 points in 14 games, the 6-foot forward wondered how the year would pan out in his favor if he stayed in Omaha instead of going back home to Prior Lake for his senior year.

Then he thought about not just the promising outlook on his season with the Lakers, but the Vermont commit also had his sights set on one particular calendar date: a match-up with East Grand Forks on Hockey Day Minnesota 2022 in Mankato.

“That’s a game you want to be a part, of no question,” said Bump, who has amassed 20 goals and 40 points through 17 games with the Lakers this season. “I definitely considered my development and what would be best for me, and the USHL would have been a great league to stick around in, but I couldn’t miss this game. I couldn’t miss this experience with my buddies and teammates.

“It’s a memory I won’t forget.”

East Grand Forks’ Jaksen Panzer had a similar dilemma. The junior forward started the year with nearby Minot Minotauros of the North American Hockey League where he notched five goals and 13 assists in 16 games. Panzer leads East Grand Forks with 17 goals and 33 points in 15 games this year.

For Panzer, equally as alluring was the potential promise of another Minnesota State High School Boy’s Hockey Tournament where the Green Wave has made six appearances in nine years.

“Of course you come back (to high school) with the goal of making the state tournament,” said Panzer, who plans to attend the University of North Dakota post-high school. “We’ve gotten really close the past few years and we’re right there.

“But, I also saw this Hockey Day game as one that you really only get one shot at, and not everyone even ever gets this chance. To have a full crowd and prime-time television — bigger than even the state tournament broadcast — who wouldn’t want to come back and play with their team in a game like that?”

Bump also acknowledged the crowd following the Lakers 7-1 victory against the Green Wave.

“That was the coolest thing,” said Bump who tallied 4 assists and a goal in the game. “I had my mom and dad there and just to see everyone cheering us on, it was pretty great.”

Between the crowd, the broadcast and the phenomenal set-up from host city Mankato: Any regrets?

“Absolutely not,” said Bump.

“None at all,” chimed Panzer.

The post No Regrets appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Featured Image:
Grand Rapids’ Avery Peterson is off to a fast start and his team cracks the top ten this week. Image by: Tim Kolehmainen

In week two and three, it can be said that ranking the top teams is about perception vs. reality.  That came to fruition this week as there were some surprising wins and some even more surprising losses among the top teams.  A look at week two shows plenty of shuffling of the teams.  This ranking system is based on performance, not a hunch.  If a team loses, it loses and most likely is supplanted by a team that continues to win.  Head-to-head match-ups play into the rankings as well.  One thing that is certain, this year will provide plenty of twists and turns as there are plenty of teams that are capable of beating each other throughout the season.

1.  Blaine Bengals (2-0-0, 0-0) The Bengals opened the season with a roadie that featured an eruption of 14 goals in two games.  Wins over Roseau (8-4) and Moorhead (6-4) illustrate how explosive this Bengal team is.  Somewhat concerning is the average of 4 goals against.  Anyone in hockey knows offense wins games and defense wins championships.  Look for that to be shored up in the Bengal camp over the coming weeks.  Seniors Tyler Cline (6g-1a-7pts) and Joey Lau (3g-4a-7pts) lead the way in the goals scoring category after two games.  Up next, the Bengals jump into the Northwest Suburban Conference schedule with games this week against Osseo and cross-town rival Centennial.

2.  Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights (2-0-0)  Off to a torrid start, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s Red Knights have turned aside two opponents with ease.  Enough ease, that they catapulted four slots from six last week to the second position this week.  With 13 goals in two games, a shutout to their credit and, a sound 7-2 win over a solid Duluth Denfeld team this week, the Red Knights have a swagger out of the box that forced the MHM to take notice.  Goaltending has been sound as junior Jalen Long as turned aside 43 of 45 shots and posted a shutout in their 6-0 opening season win over the Rochester Lourdes Eagles. As would be expected, senior Spencer Naas (3g-3a-6pts) leads the way offensively. Juniors Chase Jungels (2g-3a-5pts) and Ben Newhouse (0g-5a-5pts) are providing a sound supporting cast for Naas and the Red Knights.  They will be featured in plenty of media this week as their Tuesday game will be streaming live on their BSMHockey.com website.  Thursday’s game with the Burnsville Blaze will also be available live on Sports Radio FM 105 The Ticket.   The Red Knights close out the week with the #3 Hill-Murray Pioneers at Aldrich Arena and that game will be streaming live from the MHM website as well.

3.  Hill-Murray Pioneers (1-0-0, 0-0-0) Led by a 3 goal rally in the third period, the Hill-Murray Pioneers turned aside last week’s #10 Burnsville Blaze to earn a quality win to open the season.  With Lakeville South and Benilde-St. Margaret’s on the schedule this week, the Pioneers will have a chance to move up.  For this week, they did elevate one slot from four to three.  Senior Zach Mills delivered two clutch goals in the third period with the game winner coming at 9:26.  Three different players produced multi-point games and senior goalie Sam Ilgen was solid when called upon.  Knowing where to be and how to execute on the ice is critical to a team’s success.  Year after year, head coach Bill Lechner’s teams have the same elements that thrust them to the top of the high school hockey food chain. They always play within in the team, skate, and never are overwhelmed from game-to-game or the situation.  More of that can be seen with two big games this week.

4.  Elk River Elks (1-0-0, 0-0-0) The Elks jump three slots from seven to four with a stiffing 3-1 win over the Edina Hornets in Elk River.  Known as a team loaded with defensemen and a terrific goalie, the Elks went offensive and outshot Edina 46-32 including 20-4 in the third period to finish with authority.  It was a game played five-on-five with each team only employing two  power plays for the game.  Junior Ben Johnson had two goals for the Elks, both in the second period,  including the game winner at 15:05.  The two teams will face each other in a re-match at Braemar Arena at the Holiday Classic later this month.  The Elks are off all week until they open their Northwest Suburban Conference action with the fast starting Andover Huskies.

5.  Edina Hornets (3-1-0, 0-0-0) Opening season wins over Holy Family Catholic (8-0), Wayzata (3-1), and Centennial (6-1) had the Hornets soaring until they landed in Elk River and were stopped by the Elks 3-1.  Senior Cullen Munson (7g-3a-10pts) is off to a sizzling start for the Hornets.  Five players are over a point a game and they have the depth to wear teams down much like they did against the Centennial Cougars, evidenced by their three goal second and third periods.  The goaltending has been equally impressive with Andrew Rohkohl (3-0, 0.67, 971) leading the way.  They have a big Section 2AA test in the Prior Lake Lakers on Tuesday who came off a sound 7-2 win over Chanhassen this past week.  The Hornets round out the week with a game at Eagan.

6.  St. Thomas Academy Cadets (1-0-1, 0-0-0) The Cadets delivered a win and a tie this past week as they opened with a 5-2 win over The Marshall School Duluth and then tied The Academy of Holy Angels 4-4 this past Saturday.  While the Cadets fired 64 shots at the AHA net, they couldn’t pull out the win as they allowed three goals in the third period to lose the grip on what appeared to be a win.  They will tussle with Holy Family Catholic on Wednesday and Lakeville North Saturday of this week. As expected, senior defenseman Seamus Donohue (1g-4a-5pts) and junior forward Tommy Novak (0g-5a-5pts) are pacing the offensive production for the Cadets.

7.  Duluth East Greyhounds (2-0-0) One gets the feeling that the young Duluth East Greyhounds will be in a series of low scoring affairs this year.  A big win over the Wayzata Trojans  by a score of 3-2 pushed the Hounds in the top 10.  They have trio of returning players that will be a factor in their push to the Section 7AA.  Seniors Phil Beaulieu, Jack Kolar and Alex Trapp are providing the leadership.  They play host to Anoka this week and travel over the bridge to tussle with rival Superior this week.

8.  Wayzata Trojans (3-2-0, 0-0-0) The Trojans have high expectations this season and certainly one week does a season not make.  However, two losses are two losses.  This past week, they played three games opening with a 4-1 win over Champlin Park.  They followed that up with a solid 6-1 win over Hermantown and fell to Duluth East this past Saturday 3-2.  Their other loss is to the Edina Hornets.  Maxwell Zimmer (2g-5a-7pts) is leading the way offensively for the youthful Trojans. Games with Apple Valley and Burnsville are on the docket.  Another loss, and the Trojans could be on the outside looking in to the prestigious MHM rankings.

9.  Eden Prairie Eagles (1-0-0, 0-0-0)  The Eagles held serve and picked up a balanced 6-0 win over the Osseo Orioles last week.  They play two this week as They host Rosemount Tuesday and head to Lakeville South on Saturday.  Junior Riley Argetsinger (3g-1a-4pts) had a productive first game and will take the goal scoring and point production pressure off seniors Steven Spinner and Luc Snuggerud.

10.  Grand Rapids Thunderhawks (2-0-0, 0-0-0)  The Thunderhaws opened the season with a pair of wins including a key Section 7AA victory over Forest Lake by a score of 2-1.  They eked out a 4-3 win over the Bemidji Lumberjacks to start the season last week.  Senior Avery Peterson (2g-2a-4pts) had a three point effort against Bemidji to pace his club.  They open the Iron Range Conference schedule with a tilt agains Virginia-Mountain Iron/Buhl and travel further north to battle Roseau on Friday followed by Warroad on Saturday.

Others receiving votes:  Prior Lake, Andover, Roseau, Burnsville

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