Ferris State Tops Michigan In Shootout Win

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A pair of defensemen, senior Zach Redmond (Traverse City) and junior Chad Billins (Marysville) tallied a goal apiece in a three-round 2-0 shootout decision as the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team earned two points in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) standings following a 2-2 overtime tie versus the nationally fourth-ranked Michigan Wolverines this Friday (Oct. 29) evening in a weekend home-and-home series opener at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

The Bulldogs began the shootout with Zach Redmond scoring the initial goal by putting the puck five-hole in between the pads of UM goaltender Shawn Hunwick.  The Wolverines' Carl Hagelin was denied by senior goaltender Pat Nagle's (Bloomfield) glove save on the visitor's first attempt.  Junior defenseman Derek Graham (Schoolcraft) then followed with a miss on a backhanded shot and Michigan's Louie Caporusso shot on the Bulldog goal was saved by Nagle.  FSU then closed out the shootout as Chad Billins deked Hunwick before backhanding the puck into the Wolverine net from the right side of the crease.

Ferris State, which is now 4-2-1 overall and 1-1-1-1 in the CCHA as a result of the tie and ensuing league shootout win, appeared well on its way of upsetting the nation's fourth-ranked team in front of enthusiastic home crowd of 2,021 fans as the Bulldogs built up a two-goal lead just over the midway point in the third period.  However, momentum quickly tilted to the Wolverines with their first goal coming with about six minutes left and then tallying the equalizer with 12.7 seconds left in regulation.

Following a scoreless first period, Ferris State netted the game's first score as sophomore right wing Eric Alexander (Kentwood) posted his first goal of the year during a Bulldog line change.  Alexander skated on to the ice into the Michigan zone and blasted a shot from high above the left circle past Shawn Hunwick into the far opposite corner of the goal.  Senior left wing Mike Embach (Orland Park, Ill.) received an assist on the goal, which came at 8:39 of the second period, as the puck redirected off his skate toward Alexander.   Freshman left wing Andy Huff (Howell) also picked up a helper. 

The Bulldogs extended their lead to two goals at 11:52 into the third period when Zach Redmond took a pass from Chad Billins just above FSU's blueline and skated into the Wolverines' zone down the left side during a power-play situation for the host team.  Redmond was able to elude a Michigan skater in the left circle area and proceeded to attack the Wolverine net from the goal line inward.  The Bulldog captain scored his fourth of the season by slipping the puck between the UM netminder and the near post.  The scoring play began with Pat Nagle clearing the puck to Billins for the second assist. 

Michigan would come back over a minute later as Jacob Fallon was credited with a goal at the 13:13 mark of the final regulation period.  In a flurry of action outside the Ferris goal, the puck appeared to deflect off a Bulldog skater into the net as the Wolverines trimmed the margin to 2-1.  Michigan would then snatch a potential regulation win from Ferris State with only 12.7 left as David Wohlberg tallied the tying goal after the Wolverines had pulled their netminder for the extra attacker.  Wohlberg put the puck in the Bulldog net off the glove of Nagle, who stretched back to make the stop but was unable to corral the puck and make the stop prior to the UM forward's heroics.   

Michigan, which would claim a 30-28 lead in shots for the 65 minute contest, attempted four of them in the five-minute overtime.  Pat Nagle (4-1-1) wrapped up the game with 28 saves while Shawn Hunwick (1-1-3) totaled 26 stops.   

The in-state teams will meet again this Saturday (Oct. 30) in the finale of a weekend CCHA two-game set at UM's Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.  The puck will drop at 7:38 p.m. (EDT) in a contest which will be aired live by Comcast Television.