Bulldogs Fall In Season Finale - Lock-In Trip to Bowling Green In CCHA Playoffs

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team fell 4-2 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play to wrap the 2023 regular season on Saturday (Feb. 25) against the Lake Superior State Lakers.

With tonight's results, Ferris State will make a trip to Bowling Green for the second time in a month for the first round of the CCHA playoffs, moving up a spot in the standings from last year's finish.

The Lakers went down 1-0 when Jared Westcott scored at 4:12 of the first period.

The game took on a wicked pace as the Bulldogs scored 1:28 later when Mitch Deelstra netted his eighth goal of the year at 5:40 of the opening period from the right circle. Sophomore forward Nick Nardecchia picked up his ninth assist of the year ont he play.

LSSU scored at 7:05 of the first when Louis Boudon found the back of the net to retake the lead at 2-1.

Less than a minute later, the Bulldogs capitalized on a power play when sophomore forward Bradley Marek deflected in his seventh goal of the year at 7:53 on a point shot by senior defenesemen Brenden MacLaren (11) and Matt Slick (4).

In the third period, the Lakers scored at 6:01 (Harrison Roy) and into the empty net at 19:40 (Westcott) for the 4-2 final.

Ferris State was narrowly out-shot 23-22, but won the face-off battle 35-26. The Bulldog penalty kill went a perfect 4-4 while the power play went 1-5. In goal for the Bulldogs, sophomore goaltender Noah Giesbrecht made 19 stops. Seth Eisele made 20 saves for the Lakers in victory.

The Bulldogs finished one win ahead of their regular season finish from last year, won the most shootouts in the CCHA, won eight games against top half of the country foes, and have won their most games in a season since 2017. This is FSU's highest conference finish since 2017 as well.

Stay tuned for additional postseason playoff information coming soon.