Bulldog Hockey Sweeps #9 Colgate With Win

Highlights
Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team defeated the nationally ninth-ranked Colgate Raiders 3-1 on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 7) to complete a weekend sweep in a non-conference tilt played at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids.

Saturday's contest marked FSU's first "Military Apprecation Day" contest as the Bulldogs honored America's current and former military members.

The victory, combined with Friday's (Jan. 6) 4-3 series-opening win, gives the 17th-ranked Bulldogs a 13-8-1 overall record. The sweep represents FSU's first sweep since beating Bowling Green State on the road in back-to-back games on Nov. 4-5. Colgate fell to 12-6-2 overall.

After a scoreless first period, the Bulldogs got on the board first as senior forward Travis Ouellette (Windsor, Ontario) scored an even-strength goal 54 seconds into the second period. Senior forward Jordie Johnston (Rosetown, Saskatchewan) earned the helper.

Colgate struck back to tie the game at 1-1 only 2:49 into the second period as nation-leading goal scorer Austin Smith tallied a lamp-lighter for the Raiders.

FSU junior forward Matthew Kirzigner (Leroy, Saskatchewan) scored the eventual game-winner at the 9:59 mark of the second frame with a shot from the center of the hash marks. Assists were awarded to sophomore Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) and freshman defender Simon Denis (Burnaby, British Columbia).

Thompson scored a short-handed goal just 21 seconds into the third period to secure the 3-1 victory for the Bulldogs. Ouellette fed the puck to Thompson at the blue line who then stuffed it past the Colgate netminder's right pad.

Bulldog senior goalie Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) earned the win with 27 saves and faced a game-high 14 shots on goal in the third period. In between the pipes for Colgate was Eric Mihalik, who stopped 27 of Ferris State's 30 shots on goal.

Neither team could capitalize on the power play as both squads had identical 0-of-2 showings with the man advantage. The game was sparse with penalties, but did see the Raiders holding the penalty minute edge with 14 on three infractions. The Bulldogs had three penalties for six minutes in the box.

FSU outshot Colgate 30-28 on the day, including double-digit performances in both the second (10) and third (11) periods.

Ferris State returns to CCHA action as the Bulldogs host Alaska next weekend (Jan. 13-14) in a two-game home series.  Both games are slated for 7:05 p.m. (EDT) start times at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids.