For the second consecutive season, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect is an NCAA national champion.
Penguins defensive prospect Joona Vaisanen - playing in his freshman season - registered an assist for the Western Michigan Broncos en route to a 6-2 victory over the Boston University Terriers, clinching the Broncos their first-ever NCAA national championship title.
Vaisanen's assist came on a third-period goal from forward Owen Michael, which gave Western Michigan a much-needed insurance goal and put them ahead, 4-2.
Owen Michaels SNIPE puts Western Michigan up by 2 with just under 13 minutes left in regulation!#MFrozenFourpic.twitter.com/rlcQGgznaO
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) April 13, 2025
Western Michigan never trailed in this game, with Wyatt Schingoethe scoring their first goal less than two minutes into the first period. BU's Cole Eiserman tied it a little more than five minutes later, but Cole Crusberg-Roseen gave the Broncos back the 2-1 lead with five minutes remaining in the opening frame.
Ty Hendricks scored for Western Michigan in the second period, and BU's Shane Lachance cut their lead back to 3-2. Michael's goal came a little more than seven minutes into the third period, and Iiro Hakkarainen added on later. Michael scored his second goal of the game on the empty net at the end to give the Broncos the 6-2 victory.
Vaisanen - a sixth-round pick (175th overall) of the Penguins in 2024 - registered four goals and 26 points and was a plus-22 in 42 games for Western Michigan this season. The 20-year-old blueliner went undrafted twice before his selection in 2024, and he was named to the All-Tournament team for the Frozen Four.
He also led all National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) rookie defensemen in regular season points with 17 and was named to the 2025 NCHC All-Rookie Team.
Penguins forward prospect Tristan Broz also won the national championship with the University of Denver in 2024.
5 NCAA Free Agents The Penguins Should TargetWith the NCAA regular season in the rearview, NHL teams have begun signing college players as part of the annual Spring free agent frenzy.
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