KALAMAZOO, MI –– As the countdown began inside Heritage Hall on the campus of Western Michigan University during a special ceremony on Wednesday, Owen Michaels couldn’t bear to wait what was inside his custom-made box. Western Michigan hockey’s captain was not alone –– one of dozens of players, staff and coaches that were blown away and dazzled by the program’s radiant new national championship rings that were unveiled as part of a special celebration. “We saw renderings of it, but I think they’re even better than the renderings,” Western Michigan head coach Pat Ferschweiler said. This special group elevated WMU to a place where a national championship could be not just a dream, but a standard.”WMU’s title meant its first athletic national championship since 1965, when the men’s cross country team won back-to-back titles. That’s why we believe that we had the success that we had last year.”That team had full say in the design of the championship rings, including WMU equipment services manager Ross Chicantek.