Buckeyes Fall to Ferris State, 3-1

McCormick scores for Ohio State, Hjelle makes 25 saves

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State men's hockey lost to Ferris State, 3-1, Saturday night in game two of a CCHA series in Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Buckeyes (8-9-5, 7-4-3-1 CCHA) and Bulldogs (10-9-3, 8-7-1-0 CCHA) split the series after a 3-1 victory for Ohio State Friday.

The Buckeyes will play a second-consecutive CCHA road series, traveling for two games with Northern Michigan in Marquette, Mich., next weekend. The teams will meet at 7:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Berry Events Center. Ohio State will then play back-to-back home series, hosting Lake Superior State Jan. 25-26 and Notre Dame Feb. 1-2.

Against Ferris State, Ohio State trailed 2-0 at the end of the first period, with the Bulldogs scoring twice in 32 seconds. Travis Ouellette opened the scoring at 13:33 and Dakota Klecha made it 2-0 at 14:05, scoring right after an offensive faceoff win by Justin Buzzeo. The Bulldogs controlled play in the period and outshot the Buckeyes, 17-7. Ohio State was able to kill off a five-minute major power play for the Bulldogs late in the period and had one power play chance of its own.

The teams were scoreless in the second period. Ohio State had the advantage in shots on goal, 11-5, and had the only two power play opportunities of the stanza, with a third chance carrying into the third period.

At 7:54 of the third Buckeye sophomore Max McCormick put in the rebound of an attempt by classmate Al McLean, cutting the lead to 2-1. Sophomore Tanner Fritz had the second assist on the goal. The Buckeyes skated with the net empty late in the period but the Bulldogs' Kyle Bonis scored with 24 seconds left in regulation to seal the win. Ohio State was 0-for-2 on the power play in the period, including a chance with 4:59 remaining. Shots were 8-6 in favor of Ohio State in the period.

Ohio State was outshot, 28-26, in the game. Buckeye senior Brady Hjelle had 25 saves in 59:13. Ferris State's C.J. Motte had 25 stops in 59:55.

Neither team was able to convert on the power play, with Ohio State scoreless on six chances and Ferris State 0-for-2.

Postgame Notes
• Hjelle's goals-against average is now 1.44 to lead the nation, while he is second in the country with a .952 save percentage.
• McLean's assist was his first point of the season.
• Fritz is first on the team with 12 assists and second with 15 points.
• McCormick is second on the team with seven goals and ranks third with 12 points.
• Ohio State was 7-for-7 on the penalty kill vs. the Bulldogs in the series.
• Ohio State is seventh in the NCAA in team defense, allowing 2.05 goals a game.