Ferris State Hockey Tops Ohio State 2-1 In CCHA Opener
The winning ways continue for the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team as the Bulldogs scored back-to-back goals in the second period and held on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Ohio State Buckeyes this Friday (Oct. 22) evening in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) opener for both teams at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-1-0 overall this season and 1-0-0-0 in the CCHA as a result of the win as FSU extended its current winning streak to three straight.
Senior center Nate Hennig (Macomb) tallied his team-leading fourth goal of the season at 12:20 into the second period of play to snap a scoreless tie. Hennig, who has now scored a lamplighter in his last four appearances to date, fired a shot from inside the right circle past Ohio State goaltender Cal Heeter for a Bulldog goal. The Buckeyes won the faceoff but senior defenseman Zach Redmond (Traverse City) was able to keep the puck in the Ohio State zone and sent a pass over to sophomore left wing Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, Ontario) on the left side. Bonis then fired a cross ice pass down to Hennig, who was positioned inside the right circle to net the marker. Bonis earned his first assist of the season while Redmond was credited with his second helper in the 2010-11 campaign.
Ferris State would strike again 2:31 later as the Hennig-Bonis combination connected on a scoring play. Bonis produced his first goal of this season with a blast from inside the left circle on a back-handed feed pass off Hennig's stick after the two linemates were involved in a give-and-go playmaking opportunity. Junior defenseman Chad Billins (Marysville) picked up his second assist on the year by controlling the puck in the Bulldogs' defensive zone and flipping a pass up ice off the boards to Bonis, who gave it up and over to Hennig before the favor was returned. Hennig would conclude the night earning first star of the game recognition while Bonis was tabbed as the game's third star.
The Bulldogs were able to maintain their two-goal advantage for almost all of the second period before Ohio State was able to get on the scoreboard with a C.J. Severyn goal coming with 1:40 left in the frame. Severyn scored inside the right circle as the Buckeye forward collected a cross ice pass and sailed the puck past the reach of Pat Nagle to narrow Ferris State's margin to 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Ferris State, which was outshot 26-24 by Ohio State for the contest, was able to kill off all three of the Buckeyes' third-period power-play chances and even held a slim 8-7 edge in shots for the final period.
Senior goaltender Pat Nagle (Bloomfield) remained perfect on the season at 4-0-0 as the CCHA Preseason All-Conference Second-Team selection made 25 saves in the game, including 11 stops in the second period alone to receive second star of the game status. His counterpart at the other end, netminder Cal Heeter (1-3-0) registered 22 saves for Ohio State.
Both teams concluded the contest going unsuccessful in four extra-man advantage situations.
The two teams will square off this Saturday (Oct. 23) in the weekend CCHA series finale at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. (EDT) and tickets may be purchased through the Ferris State Athletics Ticket Office by calling (231) 591-2888 or online at www.startickets.com.
