Bulldogs Best #18 Bemidji State In Shootout

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team played to a 3-3 tie in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) against the #18 Bemidji State Beavers and picked up the extra point with a shootout win over the Beavers on Friday (Feb. 5) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Senior forward Coale Norris scored twice for the Bulldogs while fellow senior forward Lucas Finner scored the other goal and had the shootout winning tally.

Ferris State got out in front when freshman forward Stepan Pokorny centered a pass to the low slot where Coale Norris lifted his sixth goal of the year past BSU netminder Zach Driscoll for a 1-0 FSU lead. Pokorny (5) and freshman defenseman Ben Schultheis (4) picked up assists on the play.

The Beavers answered with back-to-back goals at 14:58 when Alex Ierullo deflected a shot past Ferris State freshman goaltender Logan Stein, followed by Brad Belisle's first collegiate goal at 17:31 of the first on a tip in front for a 2-1 Beaver lead.

In the second period, BSU forward Brendan Harris threw a pass towards his own blue line that slipped out to center ice, where Lucas Finner picked it up and skated in all alone from center ice after changing onto the ice late. Finner fired in a shot between the legs of Driscoll to tie the game at 2-2 at 1:46 of the middle frame.

Halfway through the second period, Ferris State junior forward Ethan Stewart found Norris out front for his second goal of the night and seventh of the season. Stewart (7) and Pokorny (6) earned the assists on the play for a 3-2 Bulldog lead at 10:35 of the second period.

Bemidji State's Darby Gula earned the game-tying goal at 17:17 of the second period when his shot was deflected past Stein.

Ferris State and Bemidji State went scoreless through the extra frame, but Lucas Finner scored on his shootout attempt for the Bulldogs. Stein held Bemidji State 0-3 in the shootout to pick up the extra WCHA point.

In goal, Stein made 27 stops to pick up the tie for Ferris State while Driscoll made 25 in goal for Bemidji State.

Both teams went 0-2 on the man advantage with just two penalties called on each side on the night.

Ferris State finishes the season series with #18 Bemidji State on Saturday (Feb. 6) at 7:07 pm inside Ewigleben Ice Arena. For tickets, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com and click on the tickets tab. Limited availability remains for the contest with a maximum of 250 fans allowed per the current state order.