Bulldogs Drop Series Opener In Alaska

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally sixth-ranked Ferris State University men's ice hockey team suffered a 2-0 setback to the Alaska Nanooks in its Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) series opener on Friday night (Nov. 18) at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The Nanooks earned the shutout victory over FSU by scoring a goal in both the first and third period of play before a crowd of 2,858 fans.

With the loss, Ferris State dropped to 9-3-1 overall this campaign and 5-3-1 in CCHA action.

Alaska scored at 14:17 of the opening period on the fifth goal of the season by Colton Beck.  Assists went to Carlo Finucci and Cody Kunyk on the first-period lamplighter.

After neither team was able to score in the second period, Alaska came back in the third with a goal at 6:26 by Finucci off an assist by Nik Yaremchuck.

Overall, the Bulldogs outshot Alaska by a 25-23 count for the game, including 11 shots in the final third period.  FSU had eight shot in the first and six in the second with the Nanooks totaling 10 in the initial frame followed by seven in the second and six in the final period.

Neither team was able to capitalize on limited power play opportunities as FSU was 0-of-2 and Alaska 0-of-1 for the night.  The contest featured few penalties as FSU had only one for two minutes and the Nanooks totaled just two for four minutes.

Senior Taylor Nelson took the loss in net for FSU as he dropped to 6-2-0 on the year despite making 21 saves.  He had nine in the first, seven in the second and five in the third.  Meanwhile. Scott Greenham earned the win for Alaska with 25 stops, including 11 in the final period while improving to 3-6-2 in net this campaign.

The victory was the first CCHA win of the year for Alaska, which improved to 4-7-2 overall and 1-6-2 in league play.

The two teams will wrap up the series on Saturday night (Nov. 19) at 11:35 p.m. (ET) in the Carlson Center.