FSU

Ferris State Hockey Closes Strong Opening Weekend With Exhibition Triumph Over Lethbridge

Postgame Highlights Video
Postgame Press Conference Video

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team picked up a 5-2 exhibition victory over the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns (Canada) on Sunday (Oct. 7) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Sophomore forwards Lucas Finner and Liam MacDougall let the way, as Finner had a pair of assists and a goal, while MacDougall scored the game-winner and picked up an assist in the game.

The Pronghorns bolted out to a 2-0 lead before the Bulldogs responded, as Clint Fillbrandt scored at 3:54 of the first, followed by a power play goal by Michael Grant at 2:03 of the second from Taylor Fisher and Evan Wardley.

It took just 13 seconds after the Pronghorns made it 2-0 for Ferris State to respond when sophomore forward Dominic Lutz fired a slapshot from the bottom of the left wing circle that leaked through Lethbridge netminder Jonny Hogue to cut the Pronghorn lead to 2-1. Freshman forward Ethan Stewart and defenseman Justin Smith picked up assists on the goal.

Then, at 6:19 of the second frame, fellow sophomore Frankie Melton cashed in on a one-on-one wrist shot from the high slot on the rush to tie the game at 2-2, with sophomore forward Coale Norris picking up an assist.

Eight seconds later, MacDougall netted the game-winner from Finner on a drive down the right side before cutting off his defender and powering it past the Pronghorn goaltender for a 3-2 lead.

The Bulldogs capped their four-goal second period outburst at 14:14 when Finner got dumped in front of the cage but managed to drop a backhand pass to freshman forward Jake Transit, who dragged and made a nice move to roof a shot past Hogue, pushing the lead to 4-2 in FSU's favor.

In the third, Finner capped the scoring by splitting the Lethbridge defenders at 5:28 before lifting a backhander past the keeper for the 5-2 final from MacDougall and redshirt junior defenseman Zach Yoder.

Ferris State controlled the play throughout, outshooting the Pronghorns 48-19 with a 36-10 edge in the final 40 minutes. The Bulldogs went 0-6 on the man advantage and allowed Lethbridge a power play goal on five attempts.

In goal, freshman Roni Salmenkangas made 17 saves and went the distance for the Bulldogs, while Hogue made 43 for the Pronghorns.

Ferris State opens the regular season at home against the Western Michigan Broncos on Friday (Oct. 12) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena with puck drop set for 7:07 p.m. (ET). Tickets are on sale now and fans can call (231) 591-2888 for more information or visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.