Bulldogs Post Shutout Win In Home Opener
Highlights 
| Game Replay On Demand
Daniels Post Game
Nelson Post Game
Ouellette Post Game
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team posted a 4-0 win over the nationally 20th-ranked RPI Engineers in their 2011-12 home-opener this Friday (Oct. 14) night at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
With the win, Ferris State remained unbeaten at 3-0-0 overall this campaign. The Engineers, who are guided by former Ferris player Seth Appert, fell to 1-2-0 this season.
Senior goaltender Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) picked up his second victory of the season in net for the Bulldogs before a large crowd of 2,159 fans as FSU spoiled Appert's homecoming.
After a scoreless first period, Bulldog junior center Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) opened the scoring with just 1:07 left in the second period. Ouellette scored his fourth goal of the season and eventual game-winner off a rebound shot of junior right wing Eric Alexander (Kentwood). Senior defenseman Chad Billins (Marysville) also notched an assist on the play.
Ouellette increased the Ferris State lead at the 1:15 mark of the third period with a power-play goal. Billins and freshman forward TJ Schlueter (St. Louis, Mo.) both tallied assists on the goal.
Junior left wing Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, Ontario) helped secure the victory when he tallied his fourth goal of the season and first of the night on an even-strength goal 5:45 into the third period. Senior defenseman Brett Wysopal (LaGrange Park, Ill.) and senior center Jordie Johnston (Rosetown, Saskatchewan) each earned their third point of the season by adding the helpers on the goal.
Bonis netted his second goal of the night to account for the final marker of the evening with an empty-netter at the 17:16 mark of the third period. Junior right wing Matthew Kirzinger (Leroy, Saskatchewan) was credited with the assist.
Nelson finished the game with the win as he made 17 saves. RPI goaltender Bryce Merriam stopped 26 of the Bulldogs' 30 shots on goal.
Ouellette earned the game's first star with Bonis picking up the second star and Nelson taking the third.
Ferris State, which outshot the Engineers 30-17 for the night, had eight shots apiece in both the first and second period before tallying a game-high 14 in the third period. The Bulldogs went 1-of-7 on the power play and the penalty kill unit stopped all five of RPI's power play chances.
Overall, RPI was called for eight penalties totaling 16 minutes in comparison to FSU's six for 12 minutes.
The Bulldogs and Engineers will conclude the two-game series Saturday (Oct. 15) evening at 7:05 p.m. at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. After the contest, FSU's Aaron Schmit, Garrett Thompson and Kirzinger will be available in an autograph session.
