Head Coach Andy Murray
On the game overall…
“I thought it was a high-energy resilient win. It was a Ferris versus Western Michigan hockey game. It brings déjà vu to two years ago, and every game against them is always like this. We fully expect tomorrow night's game to be a battle as well. They are a hardworking determined team who battles for every puck. Tonight we wanted to have a plus on our special teams and certainly that was the case here this evening. It was a great hockey game. When I looked out there on one of our power plays we had three freshmen and two sophomores and on another power play we had two freshmen as well as a converted forward as our only senior defenseman out there. We are a young team but our guys competed and battled. Whenever you beat a team like this it is gratifying.”
On goaltender Colin Olson's performance…
“I thought Colin was more than pretty solid. I thought he was very solid. He made some big saves and he is a big body goaltender. He used his whole body to cover the net tonight. We needed to do a little bit of a better job in terms of our penalty kill and clearing pucks and Coach Shyiak will work with the guys on that tomorrow as well as some other things we can do better. Captain Sheldon Dries must have played three and a half of the last four minutes out there and had a lot of determination. We had guys step up and we found a way to win.”
On the last four minutes of the game…
“We take out that we have to have more of the same tomorrow night because if not we won't get the job done. It's Ferris State's home-opener and they are a team that has four senior defensemen and a lot of upper classmen. They have a lot of experience and losing here tonight they are going to give us their best shot tomorrow. The level that we played at today we will need to be at tomorrow to be successful.”
On WMU's discipline…
“Tonight was how it's supposed to look and that's what we ask of them every night and some nights it just isn't there. Last week we had an evaluation process in the game where we played all five forward lines and eight defensemen and that makes it difficult to get into a rhythm. I am not giving that to them as an excuse and I was still upset with them after that game. The other thing I would like to talk about tonight was our discipline and I thought our composure was good. We managed the game well from that perspective and it's always nice to win the first one.”
Colin Olson, Junior, Goaltender
On first game as a Bronco…
“I saw a good team in front of me. We came out and we were excited and there was a lot of energy in the building. It's going to be tough for other teams all year to come in here and play when we have fans like that. I thought the guys did a really good job boxing out. I saw a lot of pucks tonight and unfortunately a couple I didn't but that's hockey and that's going to happen. I thought the guys did a great job blocking shots and made it easy on me.”
On the end of the game…
“That is huge and shows the heart and determination we have. Last year I wasn't here and it didn't go the way we wanted it to but we're going to change things around and that's something you're going to be able to see from us all year. We're going to be able to close games and finish.”
On the energy of Lawson Ice Arena…
“I mean it is unbelievable. This place is the best. I can't compare it to anything. It is unbelievable and that's why they give us that extra boost when we play in this building. I love it. It's awesome.”
Sheldon Dries, Junior, Forward
On the end of the game…
“That is gut-check time for these young guys. We have been there before with so many one-goal games last year it felt good to finish this one out.”
On goaltender Colin Olson's performance…
“Colin was great back there. He was our rock. It looked like he felt comfortable back there and with the guys in front of him blocking shots helped a lot.”
On his performance…
“I like to play with energy. With a letter on my jersey I like to be an example out there for the other guys, and that's what I model my game after. And also a little bit of Henrik Zetterberg out there.”
