Three unanswered goals from the Bulldogs snapped a six-game losing streak and gifts head coach Bob Daniels his 500th career victory.
Daniels, a 33-year veteran bench boss for the Bulldogs (3-9-2, 2-6 in CCHA), earns his milestone victory during the “Traverse City Takeover,” where Ferris took on Lake Superior State (4-6-0, 3-1 in CCHA) in the “Cherry Capital of the World.”
For Daniels, his half-millennium mark victory offers reflection to those he’s had around him.
More than anything, it makes me appreciative of the coaches,” Daniels said. “Coach Drew Famulak, coach Mark Kaufman and coach Dave Cencer. I’ve been with Famulak for 32 years. That’s longer than a lot of marriages. We’re like a marriage at times, we bicker with each other … it kind of gives you a moment to sit back and reflect on that.”
The win gives Ferris its first victory on a Saturday all season.
After a scoreless first frame, the Lakers struck twice to put themselves up 2-0. That two-tally deficit lasted up until roughly the 13-minute mark, where junior forwards Max Itagaki and Tyler Schleppe scored equalized the tilt at two goals apiece.
Schleppe then scored again in the third to take a 3-2 lead, which allowed the Bulldogs to snap their six-game losing streak.
Daniels believed that they “needed a goal scorer” and got one tonight with Schleppe’s two-goal evening.
Schleppe credits his new line for the success tonight.
“It’s my first weekend playing with Connor McGrath and Matt Corbet,” Schleppe said. “I think we gelled really well, created a lot of space for each other. I kinda got lucky and the puck kept finding me so I put it home.”
Senior goaltender Noah West, who has now played in seven straight games, turned away 16 Laker shots en route to his third win of the season.
The Bulldogs will return home on Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 to match up with Augustana (S.D.).
The Vikings’ appearance in Big Rapids will mark the first time that their new CCHA rival has played at Ewigleben Ice Arena.