Bulldogs Erase Two-Goal Deficit But Fall To Nanooks At Home

Postgame Highlights
Postgame Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team battled to erase a two-goal deficit twice, but fell 6-3 to the Alaska Nanooks on Saturday (Jan. 18) at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.

Ferris State freshman defenseman Blake Evennou tallied three assists in the game for the Bulldogs, a new career-best.

The Nanooks jumped out to a 2-0 first period lead. Steven Jandric scored for UAF at 8:39 of the opening frame, followed by Kylar Hope at 16:23.

Ferris State turned to freshman goaltender Carter McPhail to start the second period after senior goaltender Austin Shaw made nine first period saves.

Early in the second period, sophomore forward Justin Michaelian drove in his fifth goal of the year on a low shot that beat UAF goaltender Anton Martinsson through the legs to cut the UAF lead to 2-1. Freshman defenseman Jake Willets (16) and Evennou (10) picked up assists on the play.

For UAF, Hope scored his second of the night at 5:24 of the second frame to regain the two-goal edge at 3-1 in favor of the Nanooks.

Ferris State cut the lead back to one when sophomore forward Jake Transit finished a one-timer for his fifth goal of the season at 8:54 from junior forward Liam MacDougall (10) and Evennou (11).

Less than a minute later, Ferris State tied the game at 3-3 when senior defenseman Zach Yoder fired a long shot from the left wing blue line that beat Martinsson high for his fourth goal of the season at 9:27 of the middle frame. Senior forward Jason Tackett (9) and Evennou (12) earned assists on Yoder's goal.

The Nanooks scored three goals in the next four minutes, first Justin Young at 10:30, followed by James LaDouce at 12:27. The Nanooks capped the scoring when Colton Leiter scored at 12:58 of the second period. Ferris State again went to the bench as sophomore goaltender Roni Salmenkangas came in in relief of McPhail.

In relief, Salmenkangas made five stops over 27:02 of play. McPhail took the loss, making three stops for Ferris State. Martinsson made 34 saves in the victory for UAF.

Ferris State finished 0-3 on the power play, while Alaska went 0-3. Ferris State held a large lead in shots at 37-23, including a 13-1 margin in the third period.

The Bulldogs travel next to Michigan Tech to take on the nationally-ranked Huskies on Friday (Jan. 24) at 7:07 pm ET inside the MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton.