WMU Withstands Upset Minded Minnesota St, Wins 2-1 in 2OT

**Fargo, ND**

Western Michigan had been the highest scoring team Division 1 NCAA hockey. However, it was their defense with freshman stud Hampton Slukynsky in net, made a pair of goals stand tall in a 2-1, 2OT in the first round of the NCAA Hockey tournament Thursday night.

Slukynsky stopped 28 of 29 shots and held the Mavericks off the board in the first. WMU had a power play less than 5 minutes into the contest but three shots on goal couldn’t find the back of the net and both teams entered intermission scoreless. The Broncos would go 0-2 on the power play with some time remaining going into the 2nd period.

The Broncos opened the scoring with a power play goal by Liam Valente in the second period with the time remaining on the power play for his 13th goal of the season. Shortly after, WMU found themselves on the penalty kill and the defense answered the bell by eliminating the man advantage without a quality scoring chance. The period ended with WMU almost made it a 2-0 lead on efforts by Wyatt Schingoethe and Tim Washe but netminder Alex Tracy make a pair of spectacular saves to keep the Mavericks in it. Slukynsky made a sprawling save in the crease with seconds remaining to maintain the 1-0 but it felt like MST had the momentum.

Right away the Mavericks cashed in on the momentum and tied it thanks to Kaden Bohlsen. The teams would go back-and-forth through the end of regulation, but WMU had regained the mojo, peppering Tracy with 28 shots compared to MST’s 20. Western Michigan would continue to out chance and outshoot the Mavericks with 9 finding Tracy compared to their 4. Both goalies made some clutch saves on quality chances including a pair of break-a-ways. Going into 2OT, WMU appeared to be gassed, and MST had a chance late that seemed to swing the pendulum back to the Mavericks.

After 87:14 into the hockey game, Grant Slukynsky and brother of Hampton, buried the game winner, on a rebound from Zach Nehring which Tracy originally saved.

The Broncos play UMASS on Saturday at 6:30pm for a spot in the Frozen Four next weekend.