FARGO, N.D. – Alex Tracy made 42 saves, but Grant Slukynsky found a rebound with 12:46 left in double overtime to lift No. 3 Western Michigan over No. 14 Minnesota State 2-1 Thursday at Scheels Arena in men's hockey.
 
Alex Tracy stopped three straight shots at the top of the crease to begin the second 20-minute overtime period for the Mavericks. Then Zach Nehring came out of the left corner and took a sharp-angle shot. Tracy made the save but Grant Slukynsky tapped the rebound across the crease and the puck bounced across the line for the game-winner.
 
The Mavericks (27-9-3) capped a successful season with their 10^th Division I NCAA appearance, winners of both the MacNaughton Cup and Mason Cup in the CCHA under second year head coach Luke Strand.
 
Tracy stopped four shots in the opening minutes as Minnesota State killed a minor penalty. The Broncos earned another power play with 16 seconds left after Adam Eisele was called for slashing, with Alex Bump making a dash to the low slot.
 
Taking advantage of the carry-over power play, Liam Vilente wristed through his 13^th goal of the season 49 seconds into the second period from inside the right dot. Owen Michaels assisted on the WMU goal, which came after the Mavericks failed to clear the defensive zone.
 
Brett Moravec charged through the middle of the ice for a partial breakaway, giving MSU its first power play after Joona Vaisanen negated the scoring chance with a slash. MSU came up empty after hitting the post with the extra man.
 
Later, Josh Groll one-timed a pass in the high slot from Rhett Pitlick behind the goal line, but Hampton Slukynsky came forward to deny him with the left pad as WMU carried a 1-0 edge into the second intermission.
 
Kaden Bohlsen hunted down a loose puck in the crease and tied the game 1-1 for Minnesota State at 1:41 of the third period, his 12th of the season. Evan Murr's initial shot came from the right point. Krajnik's tried to jam it in on the rebound in front of Slukynsky and Bohlsen finished the job.
 
Adam Eisele tried the far post and Brian Carrabes let go of a final shot at the horn as the game headed to overtime. WMU outshot MSU 9-8 in the third period.
 
Pitlick went to his backhand for an overtime scoring chance for the Mavericks. Alex Tracy stuck out a pad to deny the Broncos coming up on five minutes to play in the extra session. Tracy then denied Owen Michaels with a glove save on a 2-on-1. WMU held a 9-4 shot advantage in the first overtime.
 
Tracy continued to battle in the blue paint with a series of three saves in succession in double overtime before Slukynsky's goal.

Minnesota State blocked 25 shots, while Western Michigan blocked 20. The Broncos (31-7-1) won 45 of 78 faceoffs and will move on to face the winner of Minnesota and Massachusetts in the Fargo Region Championship on Saturday.
 
The Mavericks are 5-10 all-time in the NCAA Division I tournament. Their last trip to the Frozen Four was in 2021-22 (National Runner-Up). The team improved from an 18-15-4 overall record last season.