Ferris State Hockey Suffers 3-2 Home Setback to Michigan Tech in Weekend Opener

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team faced the Michigan Tech University Huskies for the third time this season Friday (Dec. 12) and suffered a 3-2 setback in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (4-13-0, 3-8-0 CCHA) led 2-1 with less than seven minutes remaining but the Huskies stormed back with two late goals and took game one in the weekend series. Jack Silich and Tyler Schleppe each scored for the Bulldogs while sophomore goaltender Martin Lundberg drew the start and made 22 saves.

Silich scored the game's first goal at 4:23 in the second period. John Lundy had a shot blocked that took him into the right corner where he turned around and fired a pass to Silich in the slot. Silich ripped a shot past MTU goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz for his second goal of the season. Lundy got his fifth assist and now has points in three straight games.

Max Koskipirtti tied the game with his seventh goal this year at 6:43. Stiven Sardarian and Isaac Gordon assisted, sending the game into the second intermission 1-1.

Schleppe scored his first goal of the year at 5:46 in the third period. He skated through the neutral zone and into the Tech side when Tyler Miller poked the puck away from him.  It bounced back to Schleppe who then took a shot that snuck five-hole on Bartoszkiewicz. Trevor Taulien collected his second assist of the year on Schleppe's goal that put FSU up 2-1.

Elias Jansson scored at 13:36 to tie the game for Michigan Tech. Noah Reinhart and Luca Fasciano assisted. Then, Sardarian scored at 15:12 with Koskipirtti and Gordon assisting to put the Huskies up 3-2. 

Lundberg was pulled for the extra attacker late in the game, but the Bulldogs were unable to find the equalizing goal and suffered a defeat to start the weekend.

For the game, FSU was 0-4 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill. The Bulldogs blocked 15 shots, had 24 shots on goal and won 21 faceoffs. The Huskies had 10 blocked shots, 25 shots on goal and 35 faceoff wins.

Individually, Xavier Jean-Louis finished with a game-high five blocked shots while Valtteri Piironen and Tyler Schleppe each had two. Jean-Louis and Jack Mesic paced the squad with three shots on goal apiece. Jean-Louis, Schleppe, Kade Turner, Logan Heroux, Connor McGrath, Caden Brown and Josh Zary each finished +1.

The Bulldogs will go for the split against Michigan Tech Saturday (Dec. 13). Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. (ET) in the Ewigleben Ice Arena with live coverage provided on Sunny 97.3 FM and Midco Sports Plus. Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear for the Teddy Bear Toss occurring after the first Bulldog goal.