California’s Presence Strong at Western Michigan Seven locals dot the roster for the CCHA’s up-and-coming Broncos
By Chris Bayee I
f this trend keeps up, they might rename Kalamazoo, Mich., Cali-mazoo. Western Michigan’s hockey roster in- cludes seven players - more than a quarter of the squad - from California.
The group is the largest collection - by far - of Golden State-bred talent playing NCAA Division I hockey in one place. It includes four forwards - sophomore Chase Balisy (Rancho Santa Margarita), junior Brett Beebe (Redondo Beach), senior J.J. Crew (Placentia) and freshman Robert Francis (San Diego) - and three of the Bron- cos’ top-six defensemen - sophomore Dennis Brown (Cypress), freshman Garrett Haar (Huntington Beach) and junior Matt Ten- nyson (Pleasanton).
So what drove all of these players to a school that as recently as two seasons ago went 8-20-8 and was swept out of the first round of the CCHA tournament? “We play a very high-paced, fast, skill- reliant style, so how we’re taught to play in
moved right into the lineup as freshmen. Haar, the team’s youngest player, and Fran- cis have stepped in this season. Blashill departed for an assistant coaching job with the Detroit Red Wings, but the Broncos bounced back quite nicely with another coach with strong ties to California: former Los Angeles Kings coach Andy Mur- ray.
Western Michigan sophomore forward Chase Balisy, from Rancho Santa Margarita, was chosen in the sev- enth round of last summer’s NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators. Photo/Western Michigan University
California fits here,” said Beebe, who, like Tennyson and Crew, endured the 2009-10 struggles. “We’re one of the smallest teams in the CCHA, but we’re one of the fast- est.”
The Broncos experienced a renaissance last season under then-new coach Jeff
Blashill, who directed the team to a 19-13-10 record, a run to the finals of the conference tournament for the first time since 1986 and its first NCAA tournament berth since 1996.
“I experienced the lowest of lows my freshman year; we finished last and lost in the first round of the CCHA playoffs,” said Beebe. “Last year, we set our goal to get to Joe Louis Arena (site of the CCHA Final Four). We didn’t win anything, but this year we know we can be there.”
Balisy, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Nashville Predators and finished second on the team in points with 30, and Brown
“We knew Blash was a great coach, and we were happy for his deal with the Red Wings, but, at the same time, we thought, ‘What’s going to happen now?’ Expectations were so high after last season,” said Tenny- son, a former San Jose Jr. Shark. “We found out Andy Murray was going to coach, and he’s kept the ball rolling. It’s been a really good fit. His NHL experience helps us prepare the way pros prepare.” Tennyson, who had 21 points last sea- son, is paired with Haar, a former LA Select who was drafted in the seventh round by the Washington Capitals in June, at even- strength and with Brown, a former LA Jr. King, on the power play.
“Garrett has adjusted really well,” Tennyson said. “He has the ability to rush the puck up and make plays, but, at the same time, he can play strong defense.” Through the ups and downs, the “Cali-mazoo-ans” have become a very close-knit
group. said.
“These are all great guys… all guys you’d hang out with in California,” Tennyson
Francis, who played for the Jr. Kings, LA Selects, San Diego Jr. Gulls and Anaheim Wildcats, said the California contingent has helped ease his transition to college hockey.
“It’s easier to relate to one another,” he said. “We can talk about In-N-Out and we all get it.”
Added Beebe, “Obviously, California guys have their own style of how they dress, act and do things, so the rest of the guys let us hear about it a lot.”
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