Rutkowski's Tally Boosts Bulldogs Past Raiders To Open Regular Season At Home

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - A mid-third period turnover by the Colgate Raiders turned into the game winning goal for the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team as they opened the regular-season with a 3-1 victory on Thursday (Oct. 10) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in non-conference play.

Ferris State senior defenseman Joe Rutkowski tallied the game-winning goal and an assist for the Bulldogs while sophomore goaltender Roni Salmenkangas made 28 stops in the win for the Bulldogs.

Colgate moved in front 1-0 when Matt Verboon stepped in front after a Bulldog turnover and fired a low shot inside the left goal post at 6:44 of the first stanza for a Raider lead.

The Bulldogs evened the score on the power play at 14:28 of the opening frame when junior forward Lucas Finner lined a low wrist shot towards the left side of the cage from the point that hit the skate of Raider defenseman Trevor Cosgrove and darted for the top right corner to knot the score up at a goal apiece. Rutkowski and senior defenseman Cameron Clarke picked up assists on Finner's first goal of the year.

The scored stayed even until 5:27 of the third frame when the Raiders attempted to break out of their own end and turned the puck over to Rutkowski. He then cut left after a center-lane drive and drove a wrist shot past the ear of Raider goaltender Mitch Benson and into the top right corner for a 2-1 Bulldog lead and his first goal of the year. The goal went unassisted.

Ferris State managed to keep Colgate at bay, despite the Raiders firing one shot off the goal post, and worked the puck out of their own end with seconds to spare in the game. Junior forward Marshall Moise (1) connected to fellow junior forward Coale Norris, who danced around a Raider defenseman and buried a shot into the empty net at 19:56 of the third period to push the lead to 3-1 and pick up first goal of the year.

In goal, Salmenkangas finished with 28 saves and for the second consecutive year, won his first start of the season. Benson took the loss for Colgate, making 20 saves on 22 shots on goal.

Ferris State was efficient on the man advantage, scoring once on two tries. On the penalty kill, Ferris State held Colgate 0-6 and has now killed off 17 consecutive penalties dating back to the end of last season.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Friday (Oct. 18) as they travel to Ohio to take on the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in non-conference action at Goggin Ice Arena. It will mark Ferris State's first action against the Redhawks since 2013. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm (ET).