"It took everybody to earn this victory tonight," said Canisius head coach Dave Smith. "I thought our compete level and energy level went up after the first period and that was the difference today. It wasn't a perfect game but that outcome is what happens with that kind of high-compete level."

The reigning Atlantic Hockey Player of the Year picked up right where he left off last season. Conacher recorded a point on four of the Griffs' five goals on the night, registering his second-career hat trick and adding an assist.

"Obviously, it was a good start to the season," Conacher said. "I couldn't do it without my linemates and teammates. Our power play was clicking tonight and it was a big 5-3 win for us."

Sophomore Wes Love and freshman Patrick Sullivan also added a goal, while senior Vincent Scarsella posted a team-best three assists on the night. With his three points, Scarsella raised his career total to 101 career points, becoming the seventh player in the program's Division I history to reach the 100-point plateau.

Junior Dan Morrison stopped 39 shots to earn his first victory of the season and anchor the Canisius defense.

The Broncos found the scoreboard first, connecting on the power play 9:01 into the contest. Chase Balisy found Matt Tennyson open in the slot and the sophomore tallied the first goal of the game for the early lead.

Western Michigan extended its lead to two with 3:57 remaining in the first period. Danny DeKeyser fired a shot from the blue line and the puck hit Morrison's pad and found the back of the net.

Conacher brought Canisius to within one with the Griffs' first goal of the 2010-11 campaign. Scarsella won a faceoff back to freshman Ben Danford on a power play. The freshman then gave the puck to Conacher, who sent it in at the 2:52 mark of the second period.

Conacher then added his second goal of the day 10:31 into the second frame to knot the game at two. Scarsella gained possession of the puck in the neutral zone and fired a shot toward the net. Conacher was there to clean up the rebound for his second score. Sophomore Preston Shupe also registered an assist on the goal.

The Griffs then took their first lead of the season at the 12:35 mark of the second when Love scored on the power play. The defenseman moved forward and Conacher found him open on the back door for the 3-2 advantage. Danford also registered his second assist of the night on the goal.

The Broncos fought back and tied the game at three with 55 seconds left in the second period. Max Campbell knotted the contest when he sent a shot past Morrison on the power play.

Conacher then completed the hat trick with 9:30 remaining in the contest for the game-winning score. Love gave the puck to Conacher and the senior sent a wrist shot in for the 4-3 lead. Scarsella registered his third assist of the night on the score.

Sullivan sealed the Griffs' victory with his first career goal, scoring with 3:54 left in regulation. Sophomore Eric Rex sent a shot toward the goal and Sullivan gained possession of the puck and found the back of the net for the two-score advantage.

Western Michigan held a 42-26 advantage in shots on the night, while both teams were 2-for-7 on the power play.

The two teams wrap up the series tomorrow night with game time slated for 7:35 p.m.

Game Notes: With his four points, Conacher passed former teammate Jason Weeks (2006-10) to move into fourth in the program's Division I history with 109 career points ... Conacher also tied Michael Cohen (2003-07) for fifth with 42 career goals and Chris Duggan (1998-02) for fourth with 67 career assists ... The two assists for Danford was his first two points of his collegiate career ... The goal was the first for Love, who missed the entire 2009-10 season due to injury, since Feb. 14, 2009 ... Canisius won for the first time when trailing after the first period of play since Feb. 20, 2009 ... The Griffs went 0-11-3 last year when losing after one.