Leafs prospect Wyatt Schingoethe scores in NCAA Championship Game, Western Michigan wins 1st title

Schingoethe might not have been the biggest name on the roster this season, with talented players like Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alex Bump and captain Tim Washe leading the charge, he stepped up and had arguably the biggest game in his four years as a Bronco.

In front of a partisan WMU crowd, Schingoethe rode the energy from the fans, tipping in a point shot from Iiro Hakkarainen less than two minutes into the game to give the Broncos the early lead.

The Algonquin, Illinois native wasn’t done yet. Later in the game, with Western Michigan up by two, he made a pretty pass from behind the net to Hakkarainen for an insurance marker that put the game out of reach.

Schingoethe’s two-point night helped WMU win the program’s first national championship.

For the senior, ending his college career on the highest of highs couldn’t be any sweeter. Even though he arrived in Kalamazoo as an NHL draft pick, Schingoethe had to earn his ice time. With the Broncos acquiring so much quality talent in their four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, the former Waterloo Black Hawk sometimes found himself as the extra skater on some nights.

His determination to improve impressed head coach Pat Ferschweiler to give him some more playing time his season, appearing in a career-high 30 games. Schingoethe scored his first goal in two seasons in January, ending up with five goals and 11 points on the season.

In 85 games with the Broncos, Schingoethe scored six goals and 11 assists for 17 points.

It isn’t yet known what the future will hold for Schingoethe, although many speculate he won’t be offered a contract by the Leafs. The 22-year-old was originally drafted by Toronto in the seventh-round, 195th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft. Per the the league’s draft rules, Toronto holds Schingoethe’s signing rights until 30 days after he leaves school. After that, he becomes a free agent.