Deelstra Scores Dramatic Winner In Final Minute To Defeat Beavers

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference - Coach Daniels 
Postgame Press Conference - Mitch Deelstra 

Big Rapids, Mich. - A breakaway with 46.9 seconds on the clock was all the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team needed to push past the Bemidji State Beavers Friday (Feb. 10) inside Ewigleben Ice Arena in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play to move alone into fourth place in the CCHA standings by a 3-2 final. 

Ferris State senior forward Jason Brancheau netted two points on the night to extend his point streak to six games, in which he's scored six times. 

The Beavers moved in front on the rush when Ross Armour crossed the face of Ferris State sophomore goaltender Noah Giesbrecht on the rush, and ripped a shot top left on him through a screen for a 1-0 BSU lead at 19:31 of the opening frame.

Ferris State was outshot 15-7 in the first period, but outshot the Beavers 23-14 the rest of the way.

Early in the second period, Ferris State evened the contest when junior defenseman Ben Schultheis took a shot from the right point that hit Bemidji State goaltender Mattias Sholl in the shoulder and bounced over top of him. The puck rolled onto the goal line where Brancheau punched it in for his team-leading 11th goal of the year at 52 seconds of the second period. Schultehis (5) and junior forward Stepan Pokorny (13) picked up the assists on the goal to make it 1-1.

In the third period, Ferris State pushed out in front on a shorthanded goal when Brancheau picked the Beavers of the puck out at center ice and skated down the right wall on a two-on-one rush. Brancheau fed junior forward Antonio Venuto, who ripped a shot over Sholl for a 2-1 Bulldog lead on his sixth goal of the year. Brancheau earned his eighth assist of the year on the goal, which came just 2:16 into the third. It's the second consecutive game the Bulldogs have scored shorthanded.

Halfway through the third period, the Beavers got even when Armour looped down the right side of the slot and beat Giesbrecht high left for his second of the night to tie the game at 2-2.

With under a minute to play, Ferris State freshman forward Connor McGrath (5) and sophomore forward Kaleb Ergang (2) sprang junior forward Mitch Deelstra on a breakaway down the right wing headed at the Dawg Pound. Deelstra slipped his shot off the right goal post and in for a 3-2 Bulldog lead on his seventh goal of the year with 46.9 seconds remaining.

The Bulldogs picked up all three points and now sit two ahead of Bemidji State for the final home ice spot with five games remaining in both team's regular seasons.

On the night, both power plays went scoreless, with the Bulldogs holding the Beavers 0-4 and the Bulldogs going 0-6. Ferris State outshot the Beavers 30-29 on the night.

In goal, Giesbrecht picked up the win on 27 saves for the Bulldogs. Sholl took the loss for the Beavers, making 27 saves of his own on the game.

Ferris State and Bemidji State wrap up the season series with a pivotal game Saturday (Feb. 11) at 6:07 p.m. (ET). The game is Ferris State's annual Red Out game to raise awareness for women's heart health, and fans are asked to wear red to the game.