Burtch Has First Multi-Point Game as Bulldog Hockey Falls 3-2 to Michigan Tech

Game Highlights 
Postgame Interview - Coach Daniels 
Postgame Interview - Gavin Best 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team got a two-point performance from Cole Burtch Friday (Nov. 8) but ultimately fell 3-2 against the Michigan Tech Huskies in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play in the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Burtch recorded his first career multi-point game in the Bulldogs' (2-7-2, 1-4-0 CCHA) defeat, tallying a first period assist and a late goal as the Bulldogs attempted to mount a comeback in the third period.

FSU got the first goal of the game at 16:38 in the first from Gavin Best, his second straight game with a goal. Burtch broke out of the Bulldog zone and worked through center ice before passing up ahead for Best. Best skated into the right-wing circle and fired a shot past MTU's goalkeeper, Max Vayrynen, giving FSU a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the year. Burtch collected his third assist, and the Bulldogs took that lead into the first intermission. 

Michigan Tech scored two power play goals in the second, the first coming from Chase Pietila at 14:41 in period two. He sent a one-time shot from the top of the slot that beat Noah West for MTU's first goal of the night. Stiven Sardarian and Nick Williams recorded assists on Pietila's power play conversion.

Marcus Pedersen scored his second career power play goal at 17:18, giving Michigan Tech their first lead of the evening. Elias Jansson Jack Works had the helpers, and MTU took a 2-1 advantage in the third.

Max Itagaki was whistled for a slashing penalty at 19:07, so the Huskies started period three on the power play for 1:07. FSU killed that penalty, but Sardarian scored an even strength goal just two minutes later. Max Koskipirtti and Pietila assisted on Sardarian's goal that gave Michigan Tech a 3-1 lead early in the third period.

Burtch scored his third goal of the season at 18:18 as FSU tried to mount a late comeback. Logan Heroux started a breakout from behind Ferris State's net with a pass up the wall to Kaleb Ergang. Ergang found Burtch at center ice, who skated all the way down to the right-wing dot where he fired a shot past Vayrynen, pulling the Bulldogs to within a goal. Heroux earned his second collegiate assist and Ergang got his second helper of the season.

Ferris State pulled West with 60 seconds remaining for the extra attacker but were unable to tie the game and force overtime. Michigan Tech came away with a 3-2 victory in the first of four regular season meetings against Ferris State.

West finished the game with 28 saves on 31 shots faced. Vayrynen made 23-25 saves in his third win this year.

Travis Shoudy finished the game with two of the Bulldogs' six blocked shots on the night. Heroux, Burtch, Holden Doell and Caiden Gault each had three shots on goal and Burtch finished a team-best +2 with his first career-multi point effort.

As a team, the Bulldogs failed to convert their lone power play opportunity, while Michigan Tech went 2-5 on their power play tries. FSU had 25 shots on goal compared to 31 for MTU, and the Bulldogs went 33-23 on the faceoff circle. Zach Faremouth had a game-high 14 faceoff wins.

Ferris State will look to bounce back Saturday (Nov. 9) as they conclude their weekend series against Michigan Tech in the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 p.m. (ET) on Midco Sports Plus, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunny 97.3 FM.