The Weekly Wraparound: From Underdogs to “Oh… They’re Good Now”
Highlighting the breakout team of the northwest
The Vikings’ Breakout: How WWU Went From “Rebuilding” to A Team Nobody Saw Coming
The recruits showed up, the switch flipped, and suddenly Western is the team nobody wants to play.
If you’re looking for the biggest plot twist of the season, it’s happening in Bellingham. Last year, WWU was in full survival mode — the kind of season where everyone just tries to get to the finish line without losing their minds. And then this year happens. A fresh group of recruits walks in - Fan (who came from the WHL), Chapman, the James brothers - and suddenly the entire identity of this team changes overnight. They didn’t just fit in; they lit the place on fire.
WWU started bullying scoreboards like it was a hobby. First, they destroyed Idaho in a 22–6 weekend (yes, twenty-two goals) and jumped out to a 12–1 start. Then they followed it up by taking down Washington State 5–2 at the Collegiate Classic for win No. 15. This isn’t a “hot streak” - this is a team that finally looks like it expects to win every single night.
The best part? It doesn’t feel like a fluke. It feels earned. Confident. Fun. Like a program that finally found the players who match the heartbeat it’s been looking for. And if this keeps going, WWU might just be that team - the one nobody talked about in the preseason, and the one everybody pretends they “always believed in” by February.
WWU’s Top Six: The Core Driving Their Breakout Season
If you really want to understand why WWU suddenly looks like a wagon this year, it’s these six. This group isn’t just producing - they’re dragging the whole program into a new identity. **By the time this blog is posted, these points have gone up for these boys.
1. Andrew Fan -The Engine (51 points in 14 games)
Fan is the guy who makes everything go. Seventeen goals, thirty-four assists — he’s essentially running WWU’s offense like it’s his full-time job. He sees plays before they exist, and when he’s on the ice, the puck just… behaves differently.
2. Bret Brumbaugh - The Two-Way Unicorn (40 points, 0 PIM)
He plays forward and defense, racks up 40 points, and somehow has zero penalty minutes. Who does that? Brumbaugh is basically their Swiss-Army knife — calm, smart, and the closest thing to perfection in skates.
3. Aaron James - The Sniper With Attitude (36 points in 12 games)
The older James brother is scoring at a goal-a-game pace and still finds time to rack up assists. He plays with bite, swagger, and a “don’t poke me” edge. When he shoots, it feels dangerous.
4. Ethan Secord - The Chaos Playmaker (35 points, 68 PIM)
Secord is the beautiful contradiction every team needs. He has 26 assists, so he’s clearly a creator — but he also leads the team in penalty minutes by a mile. He’s productive, unpredictable, and always in the middle of something.
5. Tyler Chapman — The Transfer Who Changed Everything (29 points, 16 goals)
Chapman didn’t just join WWU - he gave them a new pulse. A transfer coming in and scoring 16 goals in 15 games? That’s a culture-shifter. He’s the spark you can feel even from the stands.
6. Jacob James — The Glue Guy With Skill (29 points)
The younger James brother doesn’t get the spotlight like Aaron, but he plays the kind of steady, reliable hockey every top team needs. Ten goals, nineteen assists — the perfect complement on any line he touches.
Why These Six Matter
This isn’t a one-line team anymore. WWU’s top six are all producing at a level most programs dream about - and they’re doing it together. It’s balanced, dangerous, and honestly, a little scary for everyone else in their division.
Links:
WWU’s 22–6 weekend & 12–1 start: https://www.thefrontonline.com/article/2025/11/wwu-hockey
WWU beats WSU for win No. 15: https://methowvalleynews.com/2025/11/26/vikings-skate-past-cougs-in-collegiate-classic/
WWU Upcoming Schedule (2025–26 Highlights)
Here’s what’s next for the Vikings- keep an eye on these if you want to catch them live: 2025-2026 schedule
Want to Watch Them?
You can catch every WWU Vikings game for free on their YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@WWUHockey
Why This Team Matters Right Now
This isn’t about luck. This is about buy-in. It’s about guys who show up, trust each other, and play with a spark you can’t fake. When your top six is producing like this -scoring, assisting, grinding, doing all the little things -the wins don’t feel surprising. They feel earned.
WWU didn’t just turn their season around. They turned a corner as a program. And it feels like they’re just getting started.