FSU Hockey Finishes Sixth in the CCHA After Shootout Loss to Northern Michigan in Regular Season Finale

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – It took eight rounds in the shootout to determine a winner between the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team and Northern Michigan University Saturday (March 1) in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) regular season finale at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (13-18-3, 12-13-1 CCHA) collected a massive point in the conference standings, jumping from eighth place to sixth. NMU came away with the shootout victory as its season ended with the road shootout win.

FSU celebrated senior night with a pregame ceremony honoring Nico DeVita, Jacob Dirks, Kaleb Ergang, Zach Faremouth, Nick Grimaldi, Nick Nardecchia and Noah West. The Bulldogs also held a special recognition ceremony for Head Coach Bob Daniels for his final career home game.

There were a total of five goals scored in a dramatic third period, three of which came in the final 1:06 of play. Cole Burtch (0-3-3), Ergang (1-1-2), Caiden Gault (1-1-2) and Gavin Best (2-0-2) each had multi-point efforts, and West made 23 saves in the tie. It was Best's first career two-goal game and gave him four points in the series (two assists Friday). Danny Ciccarello scored in the eighth round of the shootout, giving NMU a shootout win.

Grayden Slipec put the Wildcats up 1-0 at 1:10 in the second period with a power play conversion. He was assisted by Jakob Peterson and Jakub Altrichter.

Gault tied the game with a power play goal of his own at 3:20, his 14th goal and fourth power strike of the year. Ergang sent a pass from the right point to Gault in the left circle who took a wrist shot that beat NMU goaltender Ryan Ouellette. Ergang got his 14th assist and Burtch collected his 16th.

Slipec gave NMU a 2-1 lead before the second intermission with another power play goal at 19:08. Altrichter and Jesse Tucker assisted.

Best scored his ninth goal at 13:12 in period three with Burtch and Tyler Schleppe assisting. Schleppe won an offensive zone faceoff to Burtch who skated behind the net and found Best on the doorstep for the finish. Schleppe collected his eighth assist and Burtch got his second of the night.

Aidyn Hutchinson put NMU back on top by one goal at 15:01. Slipec and Tynan Ewart assisted.

West was pulled for the extra attacker at 18:15. Ergang tied the game at 18:54 with his sixth goal of the season. Christopher Lie passed from the point to Ergang in the right circle where he took a shot that beat Ouellette and tied the game. Lie got his third assist and Gault collected his ninth as he also finished the weekend with four points (two goals Friday).

Best gave FSU a 4-3 lead at 19:16. Trevor Taulien cleared the zone with a pass to Burtch at center ice. Burtch skated towards the net and found Best backside for the finish. Best's 10th goal gave FSU its first lead of the night. Taulien got his ninth helper and Burtch earned his third of the night, his second game this year with three assists (Jan. 10 at St. Thomas).

Ciccarello scored at 19:54 and forced overtime. Ewart and Medrick Bolduc assisted.

West made three saves in overtime and neither team scored as FSU went to its third shootout of the year and first since its second game of the season.

Hutchinson and Connor McGrath both scored in the second round and neither team scored again until Ciccarello found the back of the net in round eight.

For the game, FSU had 38 shots on goal, blocked 15 shots, won 37 faceoffs, went 1-4 on the power play and 6-8 on the penalty kill. NMU had 27 shots, won 38 faceoffs and blocked 17 shots.

Gault and Travis Shoudy led the Bulldogs with six shots on goal apiece. Burtch finished +3 while Lie and Best were both +2. Faremouth had a game-high 15 faceoff wins.

Ferris State will travel to Mendota Heights and begin the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs against St. Thomas. The best-of-three series begins Friday (March 7). Stay tuned for more information regarding the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals coming throughout the week.