The Michigan Tech hockey team fell 2-1 to Ferris State Saturday at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The Bulldogs scored the go-ahead goal with 3:41 remaining in the third period.
“I give Ferris credit,” Tech coach Joe Shawhan said. “This is what’s difficult about our league. It’s a grind. We knew both of these games were going to be one-goal games. It was a one-shot game and they got that shot. We didn’t compete nearly as hard as we have to tonight—especially at this time of the year.”
FSU (7-18-2, 5-13-2 WCHA) took the early lead 5:30 into the game on a goal by Hunter Wendt. Zach Yoder had the stretch pass up, and Jake Willets added the secondary assist.
Tech (14-11-3, 9-8-2 WCHA) didn’t get a power-play all Friday night but had two chances on the man advantage in the first period and then got a 5:00 chance in the second after Mitch Meek was hammered into the sideboards. The Huskies had 21 shots through the first 40:00 but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Tommy Parrottino finally tied the game 7:53 into the third with his seventh of the season from Logan Pietila and Trenton Bliss. He scored a similar goal to his ones at Bowling Green and against Michigan State at the GLI to get the crowd going on Junior Hockey Night.
“Our support was great tonight,” added Shawhan. “We could feel the energy from the crowd on the bench in the third period and that was great.”
The Bulldogs scored the game-winner on a rebound by Justin Michaelian. A shot by Liam MacDougall went up in the air and Michaelian jammed it in before the Huskies could cover it. Nate Kallen also assisted.
Tech goaltender Matt Jurusik was pulled for the extra attacker with 1:44 remaining but all three shots the Huskies generated were blocked by the FSU defense.
Tech led in shots 30-24 in the game. Jurusik finished with 22 saves. Roni Salmenkangas had 29 saves for the visitors, including an amazing blocker stop on a backdoor chance by Alec Broetzman 6:00 into the third.
The Huskies get back on the road next weekend (Jan. 31-Feb. 1) at Alabama Huntsville. The puck drops at 8:07 p.m. both nights at the Von Braun Center.
