Men's Ice Hockey Drops Exhibition Tilt To Ontario Technology
*Postgame comments from FSU Associate Head Coach Drew Famulak - (MP3 Version)
*Postgame comments from freshman forward Garrett Thompson - (MP3 Version)
A pair of third-period goals by Ontario Technology proved the difference as the Ridgebacks skated to a 3-2 victory over the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team this Saturday (Oct. 2) evening in an exhibition contest at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Bulldogs netted the game's first goal at 5:40 into the opening period as sophomore center Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) scored a power-play goal off a rebound shot on a man-advantage situation for the Bulldogs. Senior defenseman Zach Redmond (Traverse City) and senior left wing Nate Hennig (Macomb) both assisted on the FSU lamplighter.
Ferris State maintained its one-goal lead until 2:34 remaining in the second period as the Ridgebacks' Josh Vatri scored on junior goaltender Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan), who compiled 10 saves in 29:41 minutes of action between the posts.
Ontario Tech continued to ride the momentum gained into the third period as Tony Rizzi put the visitors up 2-1 with a lamplighter at 4:09 into the frame. However, the Ridgebacks' lead was short-lived as freshman left wing Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) answered just 1:50 later as junior defenseman Tommy Hill (Portage) chalked up an assist on the equalizer. The contest didn't remained tied for long as Brendan Wise found the back of the Ferris State net with a game-winning marker coming only 28 seconds following the Bulldogs' second score of the game.
Ferris State suffered the exhibition loss despite outshooting Ontario Tech 53-24, which included a 25-9 advantage in the third period alone. FSU generated 14 shots apiece in the first two periods, respectively.
The Bulldogs finished the contest converting one of four power-play chances while the Ridgebacks were unsuccessful in two-man advantage opportunities.
Senior Pat Nagle (Bloomfield) started in goal for Ferris State and turned away all 11 shots faced on the night, including eight in the first period, for the first 29:14 of the matchup before yielding the net to Taylor Nelson. Ontario Tech's netminder Jeff Dawson turned in a noteworthy performance with 51 saves in 60 minutes of action, highlighted by 24 stops in the third period alone.
The Bulldogs will now get set to officially drop the puck on their 2010-11 season this week (Oct. 7-8) with a two-game non-league series versus the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in Huntsville, Ala. Both games are set for 8:05 p.m. (EDT) opening faceoffs at UAH's Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Ala. The meetings will represent the first two of four regular-season matchups between the two teams this campaign.
