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The #3 Ferris State Bulldogs made the trip to the Ice Arena in Mount Pleasant as the #9 Central Michigan Chippewas are looking for a huge win after going 0–1–1 last weekend to #2 Hope College. The Bulldogs came into this one after a sweep of #13 Calvin University last week with dominant wins of 4–1 and 8–0.

In the 2018–19 season, Ferris State was able to sweep the Chippewas in a two-game series with scores of 9–2 and 6–5. With 20+ penalties occurring in both of those games, one could anticipate tonight’s game to be very physical.

Right out of the gate, both teams came out hard, resulting in an odd-man rush for both teams within the first minute. As the first half period of play was very even, the second half was all Ferris State. Going on a 10–1 shot run throughout the last 9:30 of the opening period. But before heading into the locker room, CMU’s first line of offense got one last spark as Brendan Nelson netted one glove side on Ferris State’s goaltender Hunter Bartholomew (assists: Dalton Sutherland and Charlie Hayes) with just 14 seconds left in the period, to send the Chippewas into the break with a 1–0 lead.

Although the history of these teams calls for an abundance of penalties, the first third of this game was played entirely on full strength.

#17 Brendan Nelson

The second period of play began with explosive offense from Central Michigan. Within the first 11 minutes, the Chips buried three more goals. With the first two scored by Jackson Jennette (assists: Jacob Turowski and Brendan Nelson) and Jacob Standre (assist: Dalton Sutherland) to bring the score to a demanding 3–0 lead. After the third goal, Ferris State opted to replace their goalie, Bartholomew with backup Bryson Stutesman. But even after the goalie change, a second goal from Brendan Nelson (assists: Brennan Martin and Dalton Sutherland) on the power play brought the Chips to a 4–0 lead.

Just a few minutes after CMU netted their fourth goal of the night, the Bulldogs finally answered back with a bar down wrist shot from Nick Paarlberg (assist: Lance Mclean) cutting the lead to 4–1 with 7:34 to go in the second period.

The final seven minutes of the second period resulted in five Ferris State penalties, consisting of four minors and one 5 minute major from forward Joe Carney. But despite the Chippewas’ extensive powerplay, they were unable to net another goal and headed off for the second intermission with a 4–1 lead.

Starting off the third period still on a lengthy 5 on 3 power play, followed by a short 5 on 4, Central only was able to add three shots on goal, which was half of what they ended up with in the period.

Despite not scoring any goals in the final period, the Chippewas played great, time-consuming hockey. Positioning and puck movement in the offensive zone ran enough time off the clock to allow only a few scoring chances all period by the Bulldogs. But they were able to capitalize on one of their chances with a goal by Matt Medonis (assist: Nick Paarlberg) with 10:51 remaining in the third period, to bring CMU’s lead down to 4–2.

Within the last ten minutes of play, the Bulldogs didn’t help themselves as they committed three more penalties. One of them being an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that resulted in the ejection of Ferris State’s third-leading scorer Nick Cloud with just under eight minutes to play.

As the final minutes played out, it was a lot of back and forth play with no goals added on by either team. And the Chippewas took this game by a final of 4–2.

#1 Thomas Rofe

One of the keys to tonight’s game was that Central Michigan’s goaltender Thomas Rofe had to perform well. And he did not disappoint. Making 30 saves on 32 shots. Ending this game with two goals against, a save percentage of .938 and improving his record to 8–6–1 on the season.

The Ferris State Bulldogs’ record now drops to 18–4, while the Central Michigan Chippewas’ improve to 13–7–1 as they look to move up to the #8 spot after this upset victory.

The Chips have another tough weekend ahead of them as they prepare to face off in a home and home series against #5 Grand Valley State University. They will be home at the Ice Arena in Mount Pleasant at 10 p.m. on Friday, January 31, followed by an away game at Georgetown Ice Arena in Allendale, Michigan at 4 p.m. on the first of February.