GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Teddy Blueger set up two goals, then scored into an empty net as Minnesota State, Mankato, clinched a berth in the NCAA tournament by beating Ferris State 4-1 on Saturday night for the WCHA Final Five championship.

Cole Huggins had 25 saves for the Mavericks (26-13-1) and was named the tournament's most outstanding player.

Ferris State (28-10-3) won the regular-season league title and also is likely to earn an NCAA berth.

Brett Knowles and Brett Stern both scored their first goals of the season for Minnesota State, both set up by Blueger. Michael Huntebrinker also scored for the Mavericks.

C. J. Motte faced 31 shots for Ferris State, which got its goal from Gerald Mayhew.

Huggins, a freshman, shut out Bowling Green 4-0 in Friday's semifinals at Van Andel Arena, and Mayhew scored in overtime to lift Ferris State to a 5-4 victory over Alaska Anchorage.

The WCHA was a new-look league this season after losing two teams to the new Big Ten Conference and six others to the newly formed NCHC. Four teams remained in the league from 2012-13.