Ferris State takes third in Wells Fargo Denver Cup

Last weekend, Ferris State University competed in the 14th Annual Wells Fargo Denver Cup. The Bulldogs nearly beat eventual champions Boston College, who seized Friday's win in a shootout after the teams skated to a 3-3 tie. Ferris State then defeated host and two-time defending national champion Denver in Saturday's consolation game.

Friday: Boston College entered Friday's game ranked 4th in the nation by both USCHO and USA Today/US Hockey Magazine. However, Ferris State took control of the game early on, outshooting the Eagles 14-7 in the scoreless first period.

Ferris sophomore goalie Derek MacIntyre (pictured left above), demonstrated his mettle in the second period. He staved off an additional 20 BC shots en route to stopping 43 over the course of the night. The offense held up their end of things as well. Greg Rallo notched a power-play goal less than a minute into the period, assisted by Matt Stephanishion, and Mark Bomersback put the Bulldogs up by two with a shorthanded goal at 8:23.

BC fought back in the third period with a shorthanded goal of their own, courtesy of senior Chris Collins. Brian O'Hanley scored less than a minute later, and Andrew Orpick capitalized on a power play at 6:15. The Eagles' defense held Ferris to only three shots in the final period, but luckily for the Bulldogs, Corey Couturier's shot found the net. Eric Vesely and Matt Frank were credited with assists.

After a scoreless five-minute overtime period, the two teams went to a shootout to determine advancement to the finals. Boston College earned three goals and Ferris managed only two and had to settle for facing the Pioneers for the third-place game.

Saturday: The Bulldogs got another solid performance from MacIntyre on Saturday, as well as point contributions from seven different players.

On the Bulldogs' second power play of the game, Zac Pearson and Stephanishion set up Bomersback to light the lamp in the final minute of the first period. The team capitalized on the extra-man opportunity again when Rallo scored at 2:42 of the second period. Chris Zarb and Jim Jorgensen earned assists on Rallo's goal.

Denver cut Ferris's lead to one at 15:44 of the second with a power play goal. The Bulldogs retaliated quickly, as Pearson set up Adam Miller for his seventh goal of the season less than a minute later. Although Denver struck again to come within a goal, MacIntyre and the defense held steady and the Bulldogs maintained their 3-2 lead through the final whistle.

MacIntyre finished with 45 saves and was named the game's first star. The Denver goalie, Farmington Hills native Peter Mannino (pictured left) stopped a season-high 42 shots and was named the game's second star. Rallo earned third-star honors.

Ferris State improves its record to 9-6-5 (4-4-4 CCHA), and is idle until January 13-14, when they will face Northern Michigan on the road.