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Zach Redmond earned first star of the game accolades in the Bulldogs' season-opening victory. (Photo courtesy of the Pioneer)
Zach Redmond earned first star of the game accolades in the Bulldogs' season-opening victory. (Photo courtesy of the Pioneer)
Posted: Oct 09, 2009

Ferris State Hockey Skates To A Season-Opening Victory

Box Score

The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team started off the 2009-10 season on a winning note as the Bulldogs received goals from five different players en route to a 5-1 non-league victory over the Canisius Golden Griffins Friday (Oct. 9) night at the Buffalo State Sports Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.

Ferris State, which is now 1-0-0 overall on the season, wasted little time in taking the lead as freshman right wing Eric Alexander (Kentwood) accounted for the Bulldogs' first score of the campaign with a goal just 1:16 into the game.  Freshman left wing Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, Ontario) and junior defenseman Zach Redmond (Traverse City) each received an assist.  FSU would then increase its margin to 2-0 with 10:31 remaining in the first period as Zach Redmond took a pass from sophomore defenseman Chad Billins (Marysville) and converted during a Bulldog power play.

Canisius was able to slice the deficit to 2-1 with the second period's lone score at the 10:13 mark via a power-play marker off the stick of Carl Hudson, but the Griffins would not be able to get the puck past sophomore goaltender Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) for the remainder of the game.  Nelson would turn in a 23-saves effort for the night, which included 11 first-period stops, in picking up the win. 

The Bulldogs would go on to erupt for three third-period goals as the visitors outshot the hosts by a 16-6 margin in the frame.  Freshman center Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) potted his first collegiate goal at 9:50 into the stanza to give Ferris State a 3-1 lead and a little over three minutes later, fellow frosh left wing Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, Ontario) netted the first lamplighter of his college career.  Senior center Cody Chupp (Big Rapids) earned his second assist while Eric Alexander garnered his second point of the contest.  Loewen would turn aside 39 shots for Canisius in their season opener.

Ferris State would tack on its fifth goal with 1:13 remaining in the game as senior right wing Aaron Lewicki (Livonia) was able to get the puck past Canisius goaltender Andrew Loewen on a helper from Chad Billins, his second of the evening. 

Ferris State ended the game with a 44-to-24 shot on goal advantage.  The Bulldogs were one-of-three in power play opportunities while the Griffins made good on one of six man-advantage situations. 

The two teams will square off again this Saturday (Oct. 10) evening in the series finale at the Buffalo State Sports Arena in Buffalo, N.Y.  A 7:05 p.m. (EDT) start time is slated for the matchup.

NOTES: Ferris State is now 10-18-3 all-time in season openers.  The Bulldogs dropped a 5-2 home decision to Canisius in their 2008-09 season-opening tilt.  Prior to tonight, Ferris' last home-opening triumph was in the 2001-02 campaign with a 5-2 non-league victory at Wayne State (10/12/01). . . FSU is now 6-12-0 in season openers under head coach Bob Daniels, which includes a 3-5-0 road mark . . .Three freshmen - Eric Alexander, Travis Ouellette and Kyle Bonis all registered their first collegiate points all on goals . . . Two freshmen, Eric Alexander and Kyle Bonis, both picked up an assist to go with their lamplighters. . .  The three stars of the game were all FSU skaters with Zach Redmond earning the number one star. . .The Bulldogs' third forward line of Kyle Bonis, Cody Chupp, and Eric Alexander accounted for six points (two goals and three assists) in the contest.