Bulldogs Cruise to 9-0 Victory In Anchor-Bone On Ice Exhibition Game Against Grand Valley

Postgame Interview - Andy Noel 
Postgame Interview - Stepan Pokorny 
Postgame Interview - Coach Bob Daniels 
Postgame Highlights 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team played Grand Valley State University's club team for the first time since 1974-75 and emerged with a dominating 9-0 victory in exhibition play Friday (Oct. 20). 

The Bulldogs (1-2-1) won the Anchor-Bone on Ice in convincing fashion behind a stellar offensive effort. FSU outshot the Lakers 61-8. Overall, 14 Bulldogs recorded points in the exhibition victory, with five Bulldog skaters recording multiple points.

At the end of the first period, FSU led 1-0, but had a 20-5 edge in the shot category. Connor McGrath had the goal, and Luigi Benincasa assisted.

In the second period, Ferris State struck three times. The first came from Stepan Pokorny. Antonio Venuto raced around the Laker defense, circled the net and fired a pass cross-ice to Pokorny, who ripped a shot and beat Devin Naidow for the Bulldogs' second score of the game. Jack Mesic and Venuto recorded the assists.

Freshman Emerson Goode scored at 7:21 off a rebound. Austin McCarthy fired a shot that Naidow saved, but the big rebound came to the backside where Goode was crashing towards the net. Goode was assisted by McCarthy and MacLaren.

Pokorny scored again in the second period with 3:48 remaining. He and Venuto played an excellent two-man game in the offensive zone on a breakaway to generate his second goal of the night. Venuto once again assisted along with Trevor Taulien.

FSU got five goals in the third period, the first of which came from Venuto on the power play. It was the Bulldogs' lone power play goal of the evening, and it came from Tyler Schleppe and Travis Shoudy.

Andy Noel got in on the scoring at 11:02, with a perfectly placed shot that beat Naidow to the top corner of the goal. Nick Nardecchia and MacLaren assisted.

Schleppe scored later at 13:43. He tried to pass backdoor to Goode, but the Lakers knocked the pass down. The deflection came right back to Schleppe, who beat Naidow five hole for the goal.

McCarthy scored unassisted at 17:11 on a ripped shot from the point. He beat Naidow to give Ferris State an 8-0 lead.

The Bulldogs' final goal game from Schleppe again at 18:39. Schleppe found Ergang on the right-wing side, who immediately passed it right back to Schleppe diving into the low slot for his second score of the game. 

FSU finished the game 1-5 on the power play and 1-1 on the kill. They took just two penalties in the contest. They also outshot the Lakers 61-8.

Schleppe (two goals) and Venuto (two assists) each had three points, Pokorny scored twice, and MacLaren tallied two helpers. McCarthy had an assist and a goal.

Shoudy, Mesic, McGrath, Nardecchia, Benincasa, Ergang, Noel, Goode and Taulien were the other Bulldog skaters to record points.

Noah Giesbrecht made five saves and played the first 31 minutes, while Logan Stein played 26 minutes and made three saves. Joey Henson played the final three minutes and did not face a shot.

The Bulldogs will be back in action as they open CCHA play at Northern Michigan next weekend in Marquette. Friday's (Oct. 27) contest is set for 7:07 p.m. (ET) and Saturday's (Oct. 28) for 6:07 p.m. (ET).