Bulldogs Battle Back For Dramatic Shootout Victory Over #14 Michigan Tech

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - In front of a packed house, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey treated the Bulldog faithful to a shootout victory over the nationally #14 ranked Michigan Tech Huskies following a 3-3 tie in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) action inside Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday (Jan. 21). 

The Bulldogs got a two-goal night out of senior forward Jason Brancheau, including a late tally with the extra attacker on to force overtime. Ferris State junior goaltender Logan Stein made 23 stops, going 19-of-21 in the game's first 40 minutes when Michigan Tech had their best offensive chances.

The Huskes and Bulldogs traded goals all night, and Michigan Tech got in front first at 14:24 on the power play when Logan Pietila scored his first of two on the night for a 1-0 MTU lead.

Ferris State cracked the Husky defensive unit for its first tally at 8:43 of the second period when freshman forward Connor McGrath scrapped his way to the front of the goal and plowed his sixth goal of the year in at the right goal post to tie the game at 1-1. Ferris State freshman forward Tyler Schleppe (3) and junior forward Mitch Deelstra (5) picked up helpers on the goal.

Michigan Tech returned fire at 14:18 of the second period on a faceoff play when Logan Pietila banged in his second goal of the night for a 2-1 Michigan Tech lead.

In the third, Ferris State got on the board to even the contest at 5:45 when Brancheau found his way alone with an open net in the left circle, lifting in his sixth of the season to knot the game at 2-2. Senior defenseman Blake Evennou (10) and junior forward Stepan Pokorny (10) both set up Brancheau's goal.

The Huskies hit Ferris State with a near back-breaker, scoring on the rush at 13:26 when Jake Crespi went high left for a 3-2 lead late, unassisted.

Ferris State made one last push and pulled Stein for the extra attacker. With 1:22 on the clock, the puck kicked out to the right circle where Brancheau stood alone. He shelved his second of the night and 7th of the season, at 18:38 with the extra attacker on to tie the game at 3-3. Junior forwards Antonio Venuto (4) and Pokorny (11) picked up assists on what stood as the official game-tying goal.

The Bulldogs allowed just four shots on goal in the game's final 25 minutes.

Ferris State outshot Michigan Tech 3-0 in the overtime frame, but could not crack Michigan Tech netminder Blake Pietila a fourth time and the game went to a shootout.

In the skills competition, Pokorny put on a pretty move for a 1-0 Bulldog lead in the first round. Michigan Tech forced a fourth round when Logan Pietila went upstairs to beat Stein and tie it at 1-1.

With two points on the line, Venuto came down the middle and launched a shot off the backbar for the extra CCHA point, ending the shootout, giving Ferris State a boost in the CCHA standings.

On the night, the Bulldogs went 0-4 on the power play, while Michigan Tech went 1-3. Ferris State outshot Michigan Tech 30-26 in the game. Pietila made 27 saves in the tie for MTU.

The Bulldogs welcome in the Minnesota State Mavericks next weekend (Jan. 27-28) at 7:07 p.m. (Friday) and 6:07 p.m. (Saturday) to wrap their four-game homestand. Tickets are on sale at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets.