Bulldogs outshine MSU with Thompson hat trick

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

In their first game back to ring in the new year, Ferris State extended their winning streak to two games following a 3-0 decision at home against Michigan State on Saturday.

The victory avenges a 3-1 loss to the Spartans from three weeks prior and moves them into a fourth-place tie with Ohio State in the CCHA standings.

Junior forward Garrett Thompson began his night-long terror midway through the second period by beating Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand while on the man-advantage. Assists were credited to junior defenseman Scott Czarnowczan and senior forward Travis Ouellette.

It wasn't long after until Thompson found the net again, this time from the right corner off a breakaway pass by sophomore defenseman Jason Binkley with 15:17 elapsed.

Freshman forward Matt Roberston fed Thompson a pass with 34 seconds remaining in the third to complete the hat trick, which came via an empty-netter.

Sophomore netminder C.J. Motte stopped 23 shots to record his third shutout of the campaign and improve to 8-8-3 as a starter.

At the other end of the ice, Hildebrand (3-7-2) had 28 saves to his credit.

The Bulldogs (9-8-3 overall, 7-6-1 CCHA) look to break away from Ohio State in the standings this weekend when the two play in Big Rapids, while the Spartans (5-12-3 overall, 4-9-1 CCHA) welcome conference leader Notre Dame to Munn Ice Arena.

Bulldogs rout Ryerson in exhibition

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Last year's national runner-up Ferris State University kicked-off the 2012-2013 campaign with an 8-2 exhibition win at home over Ryerson University on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs began their scoring binge late in the opening period, when sophomore forward Nate Milam tallied an unassisted marker with 13:19 elapsed.

Two minutes later, junior forward Garrett Thompson joined in on the action, finishing off defenseman Travis White's pass to make it a 2-0 affair.

Senior forward and Ferris State captain Kyle Bonis made it a 3-0 affair with 2:02 left in the frame, with helpers being credited to linemates Travis Ouellette and Thompson.

In the ensuing frame, the Bulldogs extended their lead to five following a pair of goals within a 22 second span. At the 3:09 mark, junior forward Justin DeMartino lit the lamp, followed by a score from forward Kenny Babinski.

Midway through the second, tempers would flare between Ferris State's Eric Alexander and the Rams' Mark Corbett, resulting in game misconducts being assessed to both players.

A penalty for too many men on the ice against the Bulldogs helped open up Ryerson's first goal, as David Searle scored on the man-advantage with a little over five minutes remaining in the stanza.

31 seconds into the final period, Ryerson shrank the deficit to three goals on a feed by Daniel Lombardi to Michael Fine that found its way past netminder Rob Grannett.

The Bulldogs answered back shortly thereafter, as DeMartino banged in his second of the contest with help from freshmen duo Matt Robertson and Babinski.

With less than two minutes left in regulation, Robertson made it a 7-2 affair after finishing off a feed from sophomore forward Justin Buzzeo.

DeMartino beat Rams' goaltender Louie George with 22 seconds remaining to complete the hat trick. Earning helpers on that play were junior forward Andy Huff and Buzzeo.

Ryerson's three goaltenders combined for 36 saves, led by Steve Gleeson's 16 stops in the second period.

At the other end of the ice, C.J. Motte (10 saves), Charles Williams (five) and Grannett (11) each played one period apiece for Ferris State, with Motte earning the lone shutout.

The Bulldogs open their schedule with a non-conference series this weekend when they travel to Troy, New York for a two-game slate against RPI. Puck drop for both contests is scheduled for 7:05 pm.

Bulldogs take two from Colgate

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Just one week into the New Year, No. 17 ranked Ferris State has already crossed-off one resolution from their list - ending their three-game losing streak.

Losers of six of their last eight games heading into the weekend, it was only proper that a win (or two) was in order for the Bulldogs, whom played host to the No. 9 ranked Raiders of the ECAC.

Friday's match-up was anything but a sinch for either squad, which saw four lead changes throughout the game. Ferris State would find themselves down by 1-0 margin seven minutes into the contest, thanks to a power-play marker by Corbin McPherson. Senior forward Jordie Johnston however, would answer back at the 13:49 mark by knocking in a rebound from linemate Matthew Kirzinger.

The Bulldogs grabbed their first lead of the game on another goal by Johnston with 4:42 elapsed, only for Colgate to etch out a pair of goals to take a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play.

Forwards Travis Ouellette and Garrett Thompson helped set-up defenseman Aaron Schmidt's game-tying goal at 13:01 in the third, which came on the man-advantage.

With under three minutes in regulation, Johnston notched his first collegiate hat trick with helpers being credited to Chad Billins and T.J. Schlueter.

Kirzinger and Schlueter each finished with a pair of assists.

The Raiders' Eric Mihalik stopped 40 shots, compared to Taylor Nelson's 22.

For all of the dramatics provided in the series opener, Ferris State completed the sweep on Saturday under easier circumstances, pulling away with a 3-1 decision.

Following a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs took control of the game 54 seconds into the middle stanza on Ouellette's eighth goal of the campaign.

Shortly therafter, Colgate evened-up the score on a marker from Austin Smith.

Just before the midway point of the frame, Kirzinger tallied the eventual game-winner by blasting a shot from between the faceoff circles. Both Simon Denis and Thompson were credited with assists on that play.

Down a man to begin the third period, Ferris State's offense was stil able to prosper, as Thomspon scored on a short-handed marker from the blue-line.

Mihalik and Nelson tied one another in the saves department with 27 apiece.

The Bulldogs (13-8-1 overall, 7-6-1-0 CCHA) return to their conference schedule this Friday and Satuday night when they play host to Alaska.

Bulldogs deliver TKO to Buckeyes

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Scoring goals were the least of Ferris State’s worries over the weekend, as they notched two convincing victories over Ohio State.

Friday’s game looked like it was just out of a video game, with the Bulldogs jumping out to a 3-0 lead right out of the gates.

Senior Blair Riley (pictured) initiated the scoring surge with a short-handed marker at the 5:11 mark of the period. Along with defenseman Scott Wietecha, Riley helped up the lead shortly thereafter by assisting on a Cody Chupp power-play goal. Ferris State’s final score of the first came off a backhanded shot from the left faceoff circle by junior Mike Embach that snuck past Buckeyes’ goaltender Cal Heeter.

Ohio State would break their scoring drought just 54 seconds into the ensuing period on a marker from Zac Dalpe.

The Bulldogs however would remain unfazed, rattling off four more goals through the remainder of the period. Freshman Travis Ouellette queued-up the next scoring wave with a marker on the man-advantage that was set-up by juniors Zach Redmond and Wietecha.

After surrendering four goals on 13 shots, Heeter was sent to the bench in favor of back-up Dustin Carlson.

Riley scored the next two goals for Ferris State to notch his second career hat trick, followed by a lamp-lighter from freshman Matthew Kirzinger to close out the middle stanza.

Ahead by a 7-1 margin, Bulldogs’ head coach Bob Daniels saw no reason to keep netminder Taylor Nelson in the game, so he was replaced by senior Jordan Barber to begin the third.

With less than four minutes remaining, Ferris State sophomores Jordie Johnston and Brett Wysopal garnered assists on a goal by freshman Eric Alexander.

The combination of Nelson and Barber totaled 26 saves, the same amount as their counterparts.

Of the Bulldogs' eight goals, four came off the power-play.

Ferris State’s chances for a repeat performance looked bleak on Saturday, but they capitalized on some key opportunities late in the game to pull out a 6-5 win in overtime.

The Buckeyes came out with a vengeance, holding a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period, followed by a 4-2 affair after 40 minutes of play.

With Dalpe upping the score to 5-2 just minutes into the third, Ferris State rallied to score three goals over a 13 minute span to force overtime.

Chupp initiated the Bulldogs comeback with a power-play goal at 5:42, and tied the game while on the man-advantage with 51 seconds remaining.

Sandwiched between the two scores was a marker by Riley, his 12th of the campaign.

The contest looked to be headed to a shootout until senior winger Casey Haines notched the game-winning goal with 22 seconds left in overtime.

Once again, Ferris State’s power-play was in full swing, converting on four of six opportunities.

Junior Pat Nagle and Nelson combined for 21 stops, compared to Heeter’s 37.

The Bulldogs (9-3-2 overall, 4-2-2-2 CCHA) have the week off before returning on December 4-5, when they host Nebraska-Omaha.

Photo courtesy of Joe Gorby