FSU Tops LSSU To Move Into First Place Tie

Highlights
Post Game Press Conference
Television News Report (Coming Soon)

Big Rapids, Mich. - In a battle of nationally-ranked teams, the eighth-ranked Ferris State University men's ice hockey team defeated the 11th-ranked Lake Superior State Lakers in a 5-1 decision this Friday (Nov. 11) evening. The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) contest was held at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

The win brings the Bulldogs to a 9-2-0 overall record and 5-2-0 in CCHA play. The victory gave Ferris State three points in conference standings and the Bulldogs are now tied for first with the Lakers in the CCHA as both teams have 15 points on the year. LSSU dropped to 8-3-0 overall and stands at 5-2-0 in conference action.

The Lakers scored their lone goal at the 5:33 mark of the first period by junior forward Nick McParland off assists from Kyle Haines and Buddy Robinson.

The second period saw three lamp-lighters from the Bulldogs. At the 4:26 mark of the second period, sophomore center Cory Kane  (Irvine, Calif.) netted his third goal of the 2011-12 season as a pass from junior forward Kyle Bonis (Lindsay, Ontario) found Kane's stick and he slid the puck past the Laker goaltender. Senior defenseman Brett Wysopal (LaGrange, Ill.) notched the second assist on the goal.

Just over a minute later, at the 5:47 mark, senior center Jordie Johnston (Rosetown, Saskatchewan) tallied a short-handed, unassisted, breakaway goal as he stole the puck at the Ferris blue line and wired a shot low glove side to give the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead.

To deepen the lead to 3-1, junior center Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) scored a wrap around goal, with freshmen Nate Milam (Westland) and Jason Binkley (Powell, Ohio) getting the helpers.

Then, with 9:55 left in regulation time, sophomore defenseman Scott Czarnowczan (Macomb) scored his first goal of the season with Bonis picking up the assist.

Bonis went on to net the final goal of the game, making the score 5-1, three minutes later, at the 13:05 mark, as senior forward Aaron Schmit (Grafton, Wis.) and Wysopal notched the helpers.

Senior Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) was between the pipes to get the win for the Bulldogs. His record is now 6-1-0 on the year. He made 13 saves in the first period, five in the second and made 14 saves in the third for a game total of 32 saves.

The loss went to Lakers' netminder Kevin Kapalka, who stopped 30 shots on goal with 10 saves in each period. His record is now 7-3-0 overall.

Neither team was able to convert on power-play opportunities as the Bulldogs went 0-5, and the Lakers went 0-4. LSSU served 14 minutes of penalty time on seven infractions. Ferris State spent 12 minutes in the sin bin as they took six penalties in the contest.

The Bulldogs outshot the Lakers 35-33 for the game.

Ferris State will look to break the tie for the top spot in the CCHA as they square off against Lake Superior State cand conclude their two-game series on Saturday (Nov. 12) with the puck dropping at 7:05 p.m. (EDT).  After the game, sophomore forward Cory Kane will be joined by senior defensemen Derek Graham and Michael Trebish to sign one of a kind autograph  placards courtesy of the FSU Copy Center.