Bulldogs Skate Past Trine With Strong Offensive Effort

Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team defeated the Trine University Thunder 7-0 in non-conference action on Saturday (Jan. 16) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Ferris State junior forward Ethan Stewart potted a pair of goals with an assist for three points, while junior goaltender Roni Salmenkangas made 12 stops for his second collegiate shutout.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring at 8:09 of the first period when Jake Transit finished for his second shorthanded goal and overall goal of the season. Senior forward Coale Norris (4) and sophomore defenseman Blake Evennou (4) earned assists on the eventual game-winning goal.

Later, at 17:14 of the second, Stewart batted a loose puck beneath the legs of UT goaltender Shane Brancato for a 2-0 lead and his fourth goal of the season. Freshman forward Antonio Venuto (2) and defenseman Luke Farthing (1) earned assists on the play, marking Farthing's first collegiate point.

Late in the first period, junior forward Justin Michaelian ripped in his fourth goal of the season on a rush for a 3-0 Bulldog lead. Transit (4) and sophomore defenseman Connor Fedorek (3) picked up the helpers on Michaliean's goal. The Bulldogs outshot the Thunder 17-4 in the first period.

Early in the second period, Ferris State netted its first power play goal of the night when sophomore defenseman Jake Willets (2) scored to make it 4-0. Norris (5) and Evennou (5) dished to Willets for the power play tally.

Not long after, at 11:59 of the second period, sophomore forward Brenden MacLaren fired a shot that deflected off a Thunder defenseman's stick and into the upper right corner for his first goal of the season. Freshman defenseman Ben Schultheis (2) and Willets (2) earned assists on the goal to make it 5-0 FSU.

On a late second period rush, Stewart (5) cashed in on a rebound of a shifty move put on by freshman forward Stepan Pokorny at 18:21 of the third period. Pokorny picked up his second assist of the year while Venuto earned his third for the 6-0 Bulldog lead.

Early in the third period, freshman forward Mitch Deelstra ripped a one-timer from the right circle for his fifth goal of the year on the power play at 2:30 of the final period. Fedorek (3) and Stewart (3) added helpers on the power play marker.

Ferris State finished 2-6 on the man advantage and held Trine 0-1. The Bulldogs outshot the Thunder 41-12 for the game.

In goal, Brancato made 18 saves, but allowed five goals and took the loss for Trine, while Aaron Brickman made 16, allowing two goals in relief of Brancato.

Ferris State hits the road to take on top-five ranked Minnesota State on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 22-23) at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato at 8:07 p.m. (ET) on Friday and 7:07 p.m. (ET) Saturday in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.