Early Start Leads Michigan Past Ferris State In Battle Of In-State Rivals

Ann Arbor, Mich. - The nationally sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines jumped out to an early lead and beat the Ferris State University men's ice hockey squad by a 5-2 count in non-league action between the two longtime in-state rivals on Friday (Feb. 19) night at historic Yost Ice Arena before a sold out crowd in Ann Arbor.

The contest pitted the two former Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) members for the first time this season and it represented the first matchup between the two schools since a 4-3 FSU season-opening victory at year ago in Big Rapids over the Wolverines.

The Wolverines jumped on the board first at 5:48 of the opening frame when the nation's leading goal scorer Tyler Motte tallied the night's first lamplighter for his 28th of the season on a shot past FSU freshman netminder Darren Smith. Both Nolan De Jong and JT Compher earned assists on the goal by Motte, who's the younger brother of former Bulldog standout goaltender CJ Motte. The assist was De Jong's 10th of the year while Compher recorded his 33rd helper.

Motte was alone in between the faceoff circles after a Ferris State turnover, and he moved his goal-scoring streak to 12 game after his wrister beat Ferris State freshman goaltender Darren Smith to the blocker side.

Michigan pushed its advantage to 2-0 in the opening frame when Alex Kile notched his 11th goal of the campaign at 12:17 of the first period. Kyle Conner recorded his 27th assist of the season with Cooper Marody producing his seventh of the year on the second goal.

Connor came in on a wraparound try and left a puck for Kile who chipped it over Smith.

Ferris State scored its first goal of the evening midway thru the second period when forward Kenny Babinski picked up his ninth goal of the campaign on the power play at 10:38 of the middle frame. It was assisted by junior forward Chad McDonald, who attained his 10th helper of the season, along with senior forward Matt Robertson on his eighth assist this season.

McDonald took a fluttering slapshot from the blue line, and Babinski turned and deflected it out of the year to beat Michigan goaltender Steve Racine and get the Bulldogs on the board.

However, Michigan struck back to again make it a two-goal game slighly more than two minutes later when Conner recorded his 23rd goal this season off assists from Compher and Kile at 12:57 of the second. Compher produced his 34th assist with Kile garnering his 13th of the year on Conner's goal.

The Michigan power play unit worked the puck across the crease and Connor ripped one past a diving Smith.

The Wolverines then added two more goals in the final period as Zach Werenski tallied his seventh marker this season only 90 seconds into the frame off a Joseph Cecconi assist, whicb was his seventh assist to date.

Matt Robertson came in on a break and turned it over, allowing Werenski to come back nearly unabated to Smith before he lifted a backhander past the freshman netminder.

Later, Connor produced his second goal of the night and 24th of the year at 9:06 with assists credited to both Cooper Marody and Motte. The assist was Marody's eighth this year while Motte came up with his 16th assist overall and second point of the evening.

Marody made a spinning forehand pass from the far side that found Connor streaking in on the near side. Connor lifted his second of the night past Smith to cap the Wolverine offensive.

The Bulldogs finally got back on the board at 16:23 of the third and final period when Andrew Dorantes came up with his sixth goal this season off assists from teammates Jared VanWormer and his brother, Tyler Dorantes. VanWormer recorded his ninth helper with Tyler Dorantes registering his fifth to date this year.

Andrew Dorantes came in on a break on the near side and shot one from the faceoff dot to the right of Racine that beat him cleanly.

Smith made a total of 31 shots in net for the Bulldogs, who were outshot by the Wolverines 36-26 for the evening. On the Michigan side, Steve Racine earned the win in net and totaled 24 saves in the triumph.

Both teams were whistled for six penalties totaling 12 minutes in the box with each squad going one-of-four on the power play.

Friday's game was FSU's first at Yost Ice Arena since a 2-2 tie in a battle between two nationally top-five ranked teams in 2013 (Dec. 11).

Ferris State will return to WCHA play next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27, when the Bulldogs visit Bowling Green for a two-game league set in Bowling Green, Ohio. The puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. (ET) both evenings.

FSU then returns home to wrap up the regular-season on March 4-5 against Lake Superior State inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena. The Bulldogs are presently in fourth place overall in the league standings and need to finish among the top four to host a WCHA first-round playoff series the weekend of March 11-13.

Tickets for the final regular-season matchup against LSSU are on sale now. Visit StarTickets.com or call 231-591-2888 for more information.