Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey

College ice hockey team
   NCAA Tournament Runner-up2012NCAA Tournament Frozen Four2012NCAA Tournament appearances2003, 2012, 2014, 2016Conference Tournament championships2016Conference regular season championships2002–03, 2011–12, 2013–14Current uniform

The Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey team is an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents Ferris State University. The Bulldogs are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). They play at Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan.[2]

History

Ferris State's ice hockey program began in 1975 as a member of the NAIA and joined the CCHA as an affiliate member.[3] In the program's four seasons in the NAIA the team compiled an overall record of 58-40-1-.591, including three seasons above .700 winning percentage and a program best winning percentage of .795 in the 1976–77 season.[4] The program moved up to NCAA Division I status and became a full member of the CCHA in 1979. They joined the WCHA in 2013[4] before returning to the CCHA prior to the 2021–22 season.[5]

Ferris State Hockey's Ewigleben Ice Arena.
Ferris State Hockey's Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Ferris State turned in its best season performance ever in the program's NCAA Division I history for the 2002-03 campaign with a school-best 31-10-1 overall record. The Ferris Bulldogs also claimed their first-ever CCHA Regular-Season Championship title with a first-place 22-5-1 league mark. Ferris State received an at-large bid to the 2003 NCAA Tournament and beat North Dakota 5-2 and advanced to the West Regional title game in their initial NCAA Tourney appearance, before losing a high scoring game to Minnesota 4–7.[6][7] FSU also earned the distinction of being the nation's first team to reach the 30-win plateau in 2002-03 and also competed in the CCHA Super Six Championship Tourney for the first time since 1993.[8]

Ferris State's starting lineup for a 2009–10 game against Michigan
Ferris State's Ewigleben Arena, June 2015

The 2011–12 season was historic for the Ferris State ice hockey program. The Bulldogs began the season on a six-game win streak, their best start to a season since 1979-80 when The Bulldogs recorded an eight-game streak.[9] The team ended the regular season with their first CCHA Regular Season Championship since the program's first in 2002–03. The season was highlighted by a 14-game unbeaten streak from January 6, 2012, to February 25 in which the team recorded 11 wins and 4 ties.[10] The Bulldogs were also ranked first in the NCAA men's ice hockey poll for a two-week period in the season for the first time in school history.[11] After the team finished with the top record in the CCHA, the Bulldogs received a first round bye for the 2012 CCHA Tournament. Ferris State played Bowling Green in the second round, after the Falcons upset Northern Michigan. In the best-of-three series, the Falcons picked up a win in overtime in the opening game followed by goal outburst in the second game that saw Ferris State even the series with a 7–4 win.[12] In the final game of the series, Ferris State was unable to hold on to a three-goal lead as BGSU rallied back to force overtime. The Falcons scored in the extra period to win the CCHA quarterfinal series.[13] Despite the loss in the CCHA playoffs, the Bulldogs received an at-large bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Ferris State defeated Denver and Cornell in the first two rounds of the tournament with a pair of 2-1 games.[14] In the program's first appearance in the Frozen Four, the Bulldogs defeated Union 3-1 and advanced to the championship game against Boston College.[15] Ferris State was unable to stop the Eagles' offense en route to BC's third title in five seasons. The team finished with a record of 26-12-5.[16]

Season-by-season results

Source:[17]

Coaches

The team has been coached by Bob Daniels since 1992. Daniels is a two-time recipient of the Spencer Penrose Award, awarded by the American Hockey Coaches Association to the NCAA men's ice hockey coach of the year, having won the award in 2003 and 2012.[18] In 2012, he was also named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association coach of the year after he led the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Frozen Four and NCAA championship game.[19] Daniels is the longest tenured coach of the Bulldogs and is the only coach in program history to record over 300 wins.[20]

As of completion of 2022–23 season[4][8]

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
1992–present Bob Daniels 31 487–581–112 .460
1990–1991 Bob Mancini 2 36–32–12 .525
1986–1990 John Perpich 4 54–92–17 .383
1986 Peter Esdale† 1† 6–9–1 .406
1982–1986 Dick Bertrand 4 56–74–9 .435
1975–1982 Rick Duffett 7 119–83–7 .586
Totals 6 coaches 48 seasons 758–871–158 .468

† Esdale replaced Bertrand in January 1986.

Awards and honors

NCAA

Spencer Penrose Award

  • Bob Daniels: 2003, 2012

AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

WCHA

Individual awards

Rookie of the Year

  • Corey Mackin, F: 2016
  • Cooper Zech, F: 2019

Defensive player of the year


Scoring Champion


Student-Athlete of the Year

  • Chad McDonald, F: 2017

Coach of the Year

  • Bob Daniels: 2014

Most Valuable Player in Tournament

  • Darren Smith, G: 2016

All-WCHA

First Team All-WCHA

  • 2013–14: C. J. Motte, G
  • 2016–17: Gerald Mayhew, F
  • 2018–19: Cooper Zech, D

Second team all-wcha

  • 2013–14: Scott Czarnowczan, D; Garrett Thompson, F
  • 2015–16: Gerald Mayhew, F

Third Team All-WCHA

  • 2013–14: Jason Binkley, D
  • 2014–15: C. J. Motte, G
  • 2015–16: Brandon Anselmini, D
  • 2016–17: Justin Kapelmaster, G
  • 2017–18: Ryker Killins, D

WCHA All-Rookie Team

  • 2013–14: Kyle Schempp, F
  • 2015–16: Corey Mackin, F
  • 2018–19: Cooper Zech, D
  • 2019–20: Jake Willets, D

CCHA

Individual awards

Player of the Year


Rookie of the Year

  • John DePourcq: 1988
  • Bradley Marek: 2022

Best Offensive Defenseman


Terry Flanagan Memorial Award

  • Craig Lisko: 1994
  • Aaron Lewicki: 2010

Perani Cup

  • Mike Brown: 2003
  • Aaron Lewicki: 2010

Scholar-Athlete of the Year


Coach of the Year

  • Bob Daniels: 2003, 2012

All-CCHA

First Team All-CCHA

Second team all-ccha

CCHA All-Rookie Team

  • 1990–91: Pat Mazzoli, G
  • 1993–94: Andy Roach, D
  • 1994–95: Jason Blake, F
  • 1997–98: Kevin Swider, F
  • 2001–02: Mike Brown, G; Matt York, D
  • 2005–06: Dan Riedel, F
  • 2021–22: Bradley Marek, F
  • 2023–24: Luigi Benincasa, F

Olympians

Source:[21]

This is a list of Ferris State alumni who played on an Olympic team.

Name Position Ferris State Tenure Team Year Finish
Bob Nardella Defense 1988–1991 Italy Italy 1998, 2006 12th, 11th
Norm Krumpschmid Center 1988–1992 Austria Austria 1998 14th
Jason Blake Center 1994–1995 United States USA 2006 8th
Chris Kunitz Left wing 1999–2003 Canada Canada 2014  Gold
Chad Billins Defenseman 2008–2012 United States USA 2018 7th
Pat Nagle Goaltender 2007–2011 United States USA 2022 5th

Statistical leaders

Career points leaders

Source:[22]

Player Years GP G A Pts PIM
Paul Lowden 1983–1987 158 101 107 208
Jim Baker 1978–1982 137 82 123 205
John DePourcq 1987–1991 145 73 130 203
Peter Lowden 1983–1987 158 74 125 199
Rod Schluter 1984–1989 164 93 96 189
Paul Cook 1979–1983 139 76 99 175
Chris Kunitz 1999–2003 152 99 76 175
Perry Zoldak 1976–1981 124 60 112 172
Jeff Legue 2001–2005 152 67 90 157
Randy Strong 1978–1982 136 69 83 152

Career goaltending leaders

Source:[23] GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Minimum 30 games

Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
C. J. Motte 2011–2015 127 7679 66 49 12 272 15 .926 2.13
Phil Osaer 1998–2001 59 3198 24 22 6 116 2 .916 2.18
Pat Nagle 2007–2011 101 5801 45 42 11 224 5 .916 2.32
Taylor Nelson 2008–2012 70 4031 35 20 10 157 4 .917 2.34
Mitch O'Keefe 2005–2008 86 5074 31 39 15 227 6 .903 2.68

Statistics current through the start of the 2018–19 season.

Ferris State Athletic Hall of Fame

The following is a list of people associated with the Ferris State men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Ferris State Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).[24]

  • Jim Baker (2002)
  • John DePourcq (2002)
  • Paul Lowden (2003)
  • Jim File (2004)
  • Peter Lowden (2004)
  • Randy Merrifield (2005)
  • John Gruden (2007)
  • Andy Roach (2009)

Current roster

As of September 18, 2023.[25]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Georgia (U.S. state) Logan Stein Senior G 6' 2" (1.88 m) 212 lb (96 kg) 2001-04-26 Suwanee, Georgia Waterloo (USHL) —
2 Michigan Travis Shoudy Sophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 2002-03-15 Marysville, Michigan Cedar Rapids (USHL) —
3 Tennessee Ben Schultheis Junior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 2000-02-17 Mount Juliet, Tennessee Dubuque (USHL) —
4 Michigan Drew Cooper Senior D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 193 lb (88 kg) 2000-08-28 Ann Arbor, Michigan Coquitlam (BCHL) —
6 Washington (state) Nico DeVita Junior D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 2001-05-24 Bellevue, Washington New Hampshire (HEA) —
6 Michigan Jack Mesic Freshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 2002-10-18 Plymouth, Michigan North Iowa (NAHL) —
7 Saskatchewan Connor McGrath Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 184 lb (83 kg) 2003-09-04 Leroy, Saskatchewan Humboldt (SJHL) —
8 Michigan Austin McCarthy Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1999-03-01 Ludington, Michigan Topeka (NAHL) —
9 Michigan Nick Nardecchia Junior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 177 lb (80 kg) 2001-01-01 Macomb, Michigan Lincoln (USHL) —
10 Saskatchewan Holden Doell Freshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2003-12-01 Martensville, Saskatchewan Battlefords (SJHL) —
11 Wisconsin Jacob Dirks Senior F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1999-09-15 Mindoro, Wisconsin Chippewa (NAHL) —
12 Alberta Luigi Benincasa Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 159 lb (72 kg) 2002-10-07 Edmonton, Alberta Spruce Grove (AJHL) —
15 British Columbia Tyler Schleppe Sophomore F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2001-11-11 Vancouver, British Columbia Langley (BCHL) —
16 Manitoba Caiden Gault Sophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-04-16 Oakbank, Manitoba Spruce Grove (AJHL) —
18 Alberta Kaleb Ergang Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2000-12-31 Spruce Grove, Alberta Whitecourt (AJHL) —
19 Czech Republic Štěpán Pokorný Senior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 2000-06-08 Kolín, Czech Republic Madison (USHL) —
20 Massachusetts Andrew Noel Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2001-01-02 Maynard, Massachusetts Nanaimo (BCHL) —
21 Michigan Jason Brancheau Graduate F 5' 8" (1.73 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1999-08-15 Brownstown, Michigan Amarillo (NAHL) —
22 North Carolina Nick Hale Senior D 5' 8" (1.73 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1999-05-07 Raleigh, North Carolina Holy Cross (AHA) —
23 Michigan Antonio Venuto Senior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 2000-02-26 Whitmore Lake, Michigan Dubuque (USHL) —
24 Michigan Brenden MacLaren Graduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1998-11-30 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Fairbanks (NAHL) —
25 Michigan Zach Faremouth Junior F 6' 3" (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2000-01-04 Jackson, Michigan Des Moines (USHL) —
26 Michigan Jacob Badal Sophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2001-10-05 Flushing, Michigan Johnstown (NAHL) —
27 California Emerson Goode Freshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2002-10-16 Anaheim, California Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL) —
28 Illinois Trevor Taulien Freshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m) 217 lb (98 kg) 2003-04-14 Crystal Lake, Illinois Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL) —
30 Michigan Joey Henson Sophomore G 5' 11" (1.8 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 2001-08-15 Troy, Michigan Philadelphia Little Flyers (EHL) —
31 British Columbia Noah Giesbrecht Junior G 6' 4" (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1999-04-18 White Rock, British Columbia Windsor (OUA) —
34 Michigan Nick Grimaldi Junior F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 140 lb (64 kg) 1999-06-26 Plymouth, Michigan Odessa (NAHL) —

Bulldogs in the NHL

As of July 1, 2023.

= NHL All-Star team = NHL All-Star[26] = NHL All-Star[26] and NHL All-Star team
Player Position Team(s) Years Games Stanley Cups
Chad Billins Defenseman CGY 2013–2014 10 0
Jason Blake Right wing LAK, NYI, TOR, ANA 1998–2012 871 0
Dean Clark Left wing EDM 1983–1984 1 0
Rob Collins Right wing NYI 2005–2006 8 0
Mike Colman Defenseman SJS 1991–1992 15 0
John Gruden Defenseman BOS, OTT, WAS 1993–2004 92 0
Dave Karpa Defenseman QUE, ANA, CAR, NYR 1991–2003 557 0
Chris Kunitz Left wing ANA, ATL, PIT, TBL, CHI 2003–2019 1,022 4
Gerald Mayhew Right wing MIN, PHI, ANA 2019–2022 57 0
Greg Rallo Center FLA 2011–2013 11 0
Zach Redmond Defenseman WPG, COL, MTL, BUF 2012–2018 133 0
Andy Roach Defenseman STL 2005–2006 5 0

Source:[27]

References

  1. ^ "Colors – Ferris State University". Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Gholston, Sandy (February 8, 2010). "Ferris Captain Cody Chupp Believes Bulldogs Are Still A Confident Team". mlive.com. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  3. ^ "Moments In CCHA History". CCHA. 2009. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Ferris State Men's Hockey Team History". U.S. College Hockey Online. 1996–2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  5. ^ "New Men's Hockey League To Be Re-Established and Branded As The CCHA". ccha.com. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  6. ^ Myers, Jess (March 29, 2003). "NCAA West Regional, Gophers Earn Their (Buffalo) Wings". InsideCollegeHockey.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "Great Games of Bulldog Hockey". Ferris State University. 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "Head Coach Bob Daniels". Ferris State University. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
  9. ^ "Ferris State sweeps Miami (Ohio)". Inside College Hockey. October 26, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  10. ^ Weston, Paula C. (February 22, 2012). "Ferris State plans to enjoy CCHA title, but celebration is on hold for now". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  11. ^ Staff (February 13, 2012). "Ferris State climbs to No. 1 in men's poll for first time in school history". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  12. ^ Denny, John (March 10, 2012). "Bonis, Graham lead Ferris State over Bowling Green to force game three". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  13. ^ Denny, John (March 11, 2012). "DeSalvo's three goals help Bowling Green upset Ferris State". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  14. ^ Karnosky, Daver. "Ferris State earns first trip to Frozen Four after defeating Cornell". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  15. ^ AP Staff (April 7, 2012). "Ferris State hopes first time's a charm". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ AP Staff (April 7, 2012). "Boston College Wins NCAA Hockey Title". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  17. ^ "Year-By-Year Record" (PDF). Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  18. ^ Kornacki, Steve (April 4, 2012). "Frozen Four notebook: Ferris State's Bob Daniels named coach of the year". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  19. ^ Staff (April 4, 2012). "Ferris State's Daniels named Division I men's coach of the year". U.S. College Hockey Online. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  20. ^ Gholston, Sandy (January 12, 2011). "Daniels earns 300th career victory in Bulldog hockey career". MLive. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  21. ^ "Former Ferris State Standout Billins Named to U.S. Olympic Team". MI Sports Now. January 2, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "Career/Season Leaders" (PDF). Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  23. ^ "Goaltending Records" (PDF). Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  24. ^ "Ferris State Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame". Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  25. ^ "2023-24 Ferris State Hockey Roster". Ferris State Bulldogs. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  26. ^ a b Players are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
  27. ^ "Alumni report for Ferris State University". Hockey DB. Retrieved November 17, 2018.

External links

Media related to Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey at Wikimedia Commons

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