By Pat Evans –
GRAND RAPIDS – A second straight two-goal first period deficit was too much for Ferris State to overcome in the WCHA Final Five tournament final, as Minnesota State took home the Broadmoor trophy with a 4-1 win Saturday night at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
The Bulldogs had fallen behind 2-0 early on Friday night to Alaska Anchorage, but overcame the deficit to win 5-4 in overtime to advance to Saturday’s final.
Ferris State wasn’t as fortunate in the finals, however, as a slow start hampered the team, according to forward Cory Kane.
“Momentum played a big factor, we got of to a slow start,” Kane said. “We battled back in the second, we had all the momentum and we got one, but the third goal took the wind out of our sails; [momentum] definitely played a factor.”
Ferris State goalie CJ Motte was tested early, facing a barrage of shots in the first six minutes of the game. Although he came out unscathed, Minnesota State forward Michael Huntebrinker struck at 9:13 mark of the first period.
The Hobey Baker Top 10 nominee made 28 saves in the game.
Mavericks defenseman Brett Stern struck 13:50 into the game with a shot from the right circle to put Minnesota State up 2-0 in the first period for the second straight night.
Ferris State ended the period with a minute of shots peppering Maverick goalie Cole Huggins. The Bulldogs saw several chances pass by on rebounds as the buzzer sounded.
The second period saw 21 shots, but little scoring as it took Ferris State nearly 40 minutes to find its way onto the scoreboard.
A turnaround shot from forward Andy Huff near the right circle bounced off Huggins toward the left circle and Gerald Mayhew dove, corralling the puck just enough to slip it behind Huggins’ left leg. The goal gave him three on the weekend.
Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels was surprised by the lack of depth from his team’s depth, as four of the Bulldogs’ six weekend goals came from the Mayhew-Kane-Andy Huff line, and said the team will need more of the depth it saw all season to be successful in the NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota State went up 3-1 8:38 into the third period when Teddy Blueger wrapped around the left side of the net and Motte made the save. The puck found Brett Knowles’s stick who slapped the rebound in past Motte’s right side into the open net.
The third Mavericks goal was the defining moment, Daniels said.
“Goals were going to be hard to come by,” he said. “As the game progressed, scoring chances began to dry up, and that third goal was a tough two-goal deficit to overcome.”
The Bulldogs had a few scoring opportunities in the last three minutes, including a period with six attackers, but the Mavericks closed it out with an empty-netter from Blueger with three seconds left.
The Mavericks will ride into the NCAA Regionals on a 13-game unbeaten streak.
Despite the loss, the Bulldogs — ranked No. 3 in several polls — will still make an appearance in the 2014 NCAA Tournament. Ferris State holds the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional, which will take place in Cincinnati, Ohio. They will take on No. 3 seed Colgate at 4:30 p.m. next Friday. The Bulldogs are the only Michigan school to make the tournament.
“We have to accept the loss,” forward Scott Czarnowczan said. “Monday we’ll turn around and be ready for the next team we play.”
Daniels said the short-term memory will be key to being able to make a deep run into the NCAA Tournament, as well better depth from the team’s forwards.
Although he’s confident in his team’s chances, he also was congratulatory toward the Mavericks.
“Minnesota State is a really good hockey team. They have a legitimate chance to go really deep into the tournament,” Daniels said. “Whatever done is done. Come monday, we don’t want to dwell on it. We still have a lot to play for.”
All WCHA Tournament Team
F — Teddy Blueger, Minnesota State
F — Gerald Mayhew, Ferris State
F — Bryce Gervais, Minnesota State
D — Brett Stern, Minnesota State
D — Austin Coldwell, Alaska Anchorage
G — Cole Huggins, Minnesota State*
*Also Most Outstanding Player of the tournament