Dukovac Scores Twice as Ferris State Hockey Wins Kroger College Series 5-0 Against USNTDP

Plymouth, Mich. – Senior forward Max Dukovac capped off a four-point weekend with two goals Saturday (Oct. 18) against the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) U-18 squad as Ferris State Hockey rolled to a 5-0 shutout win at USA Hockey Arena in the Kroger College Series.

The Bulldogs (1-3-0) won their second exhibition game of the weekend after previously topping Simon Fraser University Friday (Oct. 17). Dukovac had a goal and an assist in that game and followed that up with two goals Saturday.

Hobie Hedquist and Martin Lundberg combined for a team shutout in the win Saturday, with Hedquist making 15 saves and Lundberg stopping 11 shots in split action.

Jacob Badal put FSU up 1-0 at 10:43 in the first period. Riley Wallack won a faceoff in the offensive zone, and the Bulldogs fired a shot that Team USA's goaltender Luke Carrithers saved, but Badal followed the shot and put the rebound chance into the back of the net. Badal's goal was unassisted, and FSU held the 1-0 advantage into period two.

Christopher Lie was penalized for boarding early in the second period, but the Bulldogs killed the penalty and Lie scored right after. Lie hopped out of the box and collected a perfect pass from Tanner Rowe, then skated behind Team USA's defense and snuck a shot five-hole for a 2-0 FSU lead. Rowe assisted, and the Bulldogs took a 2-0 advantage into the intermission.

Dukovac scored his first of the night at 6:08 in the third period. Carter Rapalje passed from behind the net to Caden Brown below the left circle for a shot that bounced to Dukovac in the right circle. He ripped the shot and gave FSU a 3-0 lead with Rapalje and Brown assisting.

Dukovac scored again at 14:02 with a shot from the right side that beat Carrithers for his fourth point of the weekend. Jack Mesic collected an assist as FSU built its lead to 4-0.

Trevor Taulien capped the night off with a goal at 14:46. Gavin Best broke the puck into the offensive zone and passed across the ice for Taulien at the top of the right circle who ripped a shot to the top-left corner and lit the lamp. Best and Tyler Schleppe assisted on Taulien's goal that put FSU up 5-0.

The Bulldogs closed out the final 5:14 without allowing a goal, preserving a shutout. For the game, Ferris State had 29 shots on goal, were a perfect 6-6 on the penalty kill and went 0-4 on the power play. Team USA had 26 shots on goal.

Individually, Dukovac was the lone skater to record multiple points. Brown and Badal led the team with four shots on goal each while Rapalje and Taulien had three apiece. Lie was +4 in the victory and both Rapalje and Kade Turner were +3.

Ferris State will begin CCHA play next weekend with a road series against Michigan Tech. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (ET) Friday (Oct. 24) at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunny 97.3 FM and the game will be streamed live on Midco Sports Plus.