Bulldogs Buzz Beavers For Weekend Road Sweep

Postgame Highlights 

Bemidji, Minn. - A three-goal first period gave the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team the boost it needed for a 5-2 road victory at Bemidji State to complete the weekend Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) sweep at the Sanford Center on Saturday (Jan. 22). 

The entire Bulldog top line picked up two points each including senior forwards Justin Michaelian, Liam MacDougall and sophomore forward Stepan Pokorny, while freshman goaltender Noah Giesbrecht made 33 stops for a win in his third consecutive start.

Ferris State got going on a two-on-one when MacDougall scored his sixth goal of the year at 3:31 of the opening frame. Pokorny (10) and Justin Michaelian (11) picked up the helpers for a 1-0 Bulldog lead.

Later, at 7:42 of the opening frame, Ferris State took a 2-0 lead when junior forward Dallas Tulik tossed a pass to the front of the net that hit Bemidji State defenseman Tyler Jubenville and bounced over Beaver goaltender Mattias Sholl, giving FSU a 2-0 lead and Tulik's sixth goal of the year. Sophomore defenseman Drew Cooper added his sixth assist of the year on the play.

The Bulldogs capped the first-period outburst when Pokorny ripped a one-timer from the right hash-mark at 19:05 of the opening period for his third goal of the year on a tic-tac-toe passing play. Justin Michaelian (12) and MacDougall (11) set the play up out of the left wing corner for the 3-0 Bulldog advantage.

Ferris State chased Bemidji State starter Mattias Sholl, scoring three goals on 10 shots before he was replaced by Gavin Enright.

In the second period, the Beavers came out hard, but were stifled on several chances by Giesbrecht, who kept Bemidji State at bay until the Bulldogs took their 4-0 lead.

The next goal came at 14:20 of the second period when senior forward Marshall Moise ripped his seventh goal of the year off the left goal post and in for the 4-0 Bulldog lead on a clean faceoff win by freshman forward Bradley Marek (6).

The Bulldogs capped their scoring at 19:50 of the middle frame when freshman forward Nick Nardecchia slipped a shot from the right wing corner between the legs of Enright to make it a 5-0 game. His goal was his third of the year. 

Bemidji State scored twice in the third period to cut Ferris State's lead to 5-2. Alex Adams cored at 10:18 to break the shutout followed by Tyler Kirkup at 19:38.

Ferrris State held the CCHA's best power play 0-5 on the night and 0-8 on the weekend. The Bulldogs went 0-5 on the power play as well.

For the Bulldogs, Giesbrecht picked up his third win of the year by making 33 stops while Sholl took the loss for Bemidji State, making seven saves. 

The Bulldogs pull into a tie for fifth place in the CCHA and take on fourth place Bowling Green at home this coming Friday and Saturday (Jan. 28-29) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Friday's puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. (ET). Tickets can be purchased in advance online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.