Bulldogs capture WCHA crown in sweep

Ferris State celebrates after winning the WCHA regular-season title
(Photo Credit: Ferris State Athletics)

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State's transition into the WCHA this past year has been relatively flawless, but it hasn't come without a challenge or two.

Going into the final week of the regular season, the No. 7 ranked Bulldogs remained tied with Minnesota State at 38 points for the top spot of the standings.

In the ultimate mix of both luck and skill, Ferris State was able to defeat Lake Superior State on consecutive nights, while Minnesota State finished with a win and a tie against Michigan Tech. As a result, the Bulldogs were able to nab the conference championship in their inaugural WCHA run by a single point.

Action didn't pick-up until late in the first period of Friday's contest, when senior Cory Kane moved in from the right side of the net to beat Lakers netminder Kevin Kapalka with 5:35 left for his 12th goal of the campaign, which came via the power play. Earning assists on that play were defensemen Scott Czarnowczan and Jason Binkley.

Ferris State upped their lead midway though the second using a bit of trickery to find the back of the net. Senior Justin DeMartino skated in on the right wing before centering the puck to a streaking Dakota Klecha. After rifling a shot toward the net, the puck bounced off the side of Rob Schempp and trickled its way past the goal line.

It wasn't until the 12:47 mark that Lake Superior State was able to respond, with Dan Radke winning the faceoff draw to the left of the net and feeding it to Colin Campbell from just outside the circle.

Kapalka recorded 42 saves in the loss, compared to C.J. Motte's 32 stops.

Saturday's contest consisted of the Bulldogs honoring their five seniors (Czarnowczan, DeMartino, Andy Huff, Kane and Garrett Thompson) prior to the start of the game, which was a fitting tribute considering that three of them accounted for all of Ferris State's points in their 2-1 decision.

The Bulldogs jumped on their opposition early, using a 4-on-3 situation to their advantage with Thompson finishing off a pass from Czarnowczan just 1:03 into the contest for his 15th marker of the year.

A mere 51 seconds later Czarnowczan was able to light the lamp himself, courtesy of a nifty set-up pass by DeMartino.

Despite being a man down to start the middle stanza, the Lakers were able to generate some offense, with Campbell netting his second goal in as many nights with 29 seconds elapsed.

Motte improved to 24-7-3 as a starter with 24 saves to his credit, while Kapalka collected 29 at the other end of the ice.

Despite being tied with Bemidji State for eighth place in the WCHA standings, Lake Superior State lost the tiebreaker and will not participate in the WCHA Quarterfinals. The Lakers finish the 2013-2014 season with an overall record of 16-19-1 and were 12-16-0 in conference play.

Ferris State (25-9-3 overall, 20-6-2 WCHA) enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will host Bemidji State in a best-of-three series beginning Friday at 7:07 pm.

Bulldogs spilt with Falcons in home finale

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Much like their previous series back in November, Ferris State experienced a tough test this past weekend at the hands of Bowling Green State, earning a split in the Bulldogs' final CCHA home series.

Friday's action favored Ferris State early on as senior forward and team captain Kyle Bonis scored off a pass from classmate Matthew Kirzinger with 16:47 elapsed in the opening period. Also earning a helper on that play was sophomore defenseman Simon Denis, who tallied his 14th assist of the campaign.

The Bulldogs appeared to be headed toward a 1-0 victory until late in the third, when Camden Wojtala banged one in off the post to beat netminder C.J. Motte with 1:28 left in regulation to force the extra session.

As the clock neared the halfway point of overtime, the Falcons completed their come-from-behind victory thanks to a backhanded goal by Ryan Carpenter off a rebound from Connor Kucera.

Backup goaltender Tommy Burke earned his fourth win of the year by stopping 36 shots, while Motte had 30 to his credit.

The series finale saw Ferris State honor their senior class prior to Saturday's contest, which consisted of forwards Eric Alexander, Bonis, Matthew Kirzinger and Travis Ouellette, along with goalie Rob Granett.

A Bulldogs clear-out in their defensive zone midway through the first period spurred a 2-on-2 opportunity, as junior forward Justin DeMartino streaked down the right side of the ice before sending the puck between the faceoff dots to sophomore Justin Buzzeo for the finish.

The lead would be short-lived however, due to a Ferris State turnover in the neutral zone nearly six minutes later. Adam Berkle netted an equalizer for Bowling Green State by beating Motte with a backhanded shot off a Brent Tate pass.

With 52 seconds left in the frame, the Bulldogs were able to light the lamp once again, this time on a breakaway by Bonis which came while on the penalty kill.

Momentum carried over into the ensuing stanza, where Alexander sent the puck up-ice toward junior Corey Kane off the left wing to make it a 3-1 game with 1:32 elapsed.

Not to be outdone, the Falcons were able to recover minutes later by rattling off a pair of goals within a 35 second span. The first score came off a turnover in the Ferris State defensive zone that allowed Berkle to fire from afar. With plenty of traffic near the net, Tate chipped in the loose rebound to pull Bowling Green State within one. Shortly thereafter, the Falcons took advantage of a 3-on-2 rush that saw Chad Sumsion leave a drop-pass for Brett Mohler to knot it up at three goals apiece.

A power-play marker by junior forward Garrett Thompson with less than four minutes left in the second put the Bulldogs back out on top, in what would also turn out to be the game-winning goal.

Motte notched his 14th victory of the 2012-2013 season, recording 26 saves in the process to Burke's 16.

Ferris State (15-13-4 overall, 13-11-2-1 CCHA) returns to action on March 1-2, when they hit the road for their regular season finale against the University of Michigan (10-18-2, 7-15-2-2).