1. Ferris finally beats Minnesota State
C.J. Motte won 66 games in his outstanding Ferris State career. Unfortunately for him, it took until after he graduated for the Bulldogs to beat Minnesota State. On Friday night in Big Rapids, Mich., the Bulldogs beat the Mavericks in a convincing 7-4 victory. Freshman netminder Darren Smith made 34 saves for the Bulldogs in a wild game that saw Ferris score four goals in the third period after leading 3-2 after two. It was the first win for Ferris State over MSU since the Bulldogs joined the WCHA in 2013-14. Before this weekend, the schools had met eight times since FSU joined. All eight were MSU victories. Minnesota State rallied back on Saturday with a 3-2 win to earn the split, but the Bulldogs have been nothing if not consistent this season — all three of their conference series have been splits. They also haven’t left the state of Michigan yet this season. This weekend’s series against a much-improved Alaska Anchorage in Anchorage will tell us much more about this team, I think.
2. Two points the hard way
A pair of 1-1 overtime ties gave Bowling Green and Lake Superior State an unconventional series split. Although both earn the two points, it’s probably a better tie for the Lakers than it is for the Falcons, who came into the season with high expectations but haven’t been outstanding offensively (their defense, though, is best in the WCHA — just 17 goals allowed in nine games). Meanwhile, the Lakers snapped a three-game losing streak and earned their first two conference points.
3. Morley’s milestone
Alaska senior center Tyler Morley scored the first two goals in his team’s 5-2 win over Northern Michigan on Friday night. Those two were all he needed to reach 100 career points. Morley became the latest WCHA player to reach the century mark, and the first to do so this season. The only other active player to have 100 or more career points is Michiagn Tech’s Alex Petan, who reached the mark as a junior last season. Morley would add another assist in Friday’s win and had a goal and an assist in Saturday’s 5-2 loss. He’s currently tied with Ferris State’s Gerald Mayhew with 11 points for the WCHA’s scoring lead.
