Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey | |
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University | Ferris State University |
Conference | CCHA Division I Division |
First season | 1975–76 |
Head coach | Brett Riley 1st season |
Assistant coaches |
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Arena | Ewigleben Arena Big Rapids, Michigan |
Colors | Crimson and gold [1] |
NCAA tournament runner-up | |
2012 | |
NCAA tournament Frozen Four | |
2012 | |
NCAA tournament appearances | |
2003, 2012, 2014, 2016 | |
Conference tournament champions | |
WCHA: 2016 | |
Conference regular season champions | |
CCHA: 2003, 2012 WCHA: 2014 | |
Current uniform | |
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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]
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 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]
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]
Source: [17]
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 2024–25 season [4] [8]
Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
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1975–1982 | Rick Duffett | 7 | 119–83–7 | .586 |
1982–1986 | Dick Bertrand | 4 | 56–74–9 | .435 |
1986 | Peter Esdale† | 1† | 6–9–1 | .406 |
1986–1990 | John Perpich | 4 | 54–92–17 | .383 |
1990–1991 | Bob Mancini | 2 | 36–32–12 | .525 |
1992–2025 | Bob Daniels | 33 | 510–625–117 | .454 |
Totals | 6 coaches | 50 seasons | 781–915–163 | .464 |
† Esdale replaced Bertrand in January 1986.
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AHCA Second Team All-Americans
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Source: [21]
This is a list of Ferris State alumni who played on an Olympic team.
Name | Position | Ferris State Tenure | Team | Year | Finish |
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Bob Nardella | Defense | 1988–1991 | ![]() | 1998, 2006 | 12th, 11th |
Norm Krumpschmid | Center | 1988–1992 | ![]() | 1998 | 14th |
Jason Blake | Center | 1994–1995 | ![]() | 2006 | 8th |
Chris Kunitz | Left wing | 1999–2003 | ![]() | 2014 | ![]() |
Chad Billins | Defenseman | 2008–2012 | ![]() | 2018 | 7th |
Pat Nagle | Goaltender | 2007–2011 | ![]() | 2022 | 5th |
Source: [22]
Player | Years | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
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Paul Lowden | 1983–1987 | 158 | 101 | 107 | 208 | 76 |
Jim Baker | 1978–1982 | 137 | 82 | 123 | 205 | 132 |
John DePourcq | 1987–1991 | 145 | 73 | 130 | 203 | 52 |
Peter Lowden | 1983–1987 | 158 | 74 | 125 | 199 | 81 |
Rod Schluter | 1984–1989 | 164 | 93 | 96 | 189 | 251 |
Paul Cook | 1979–1983 | 139 | 76 | 99 | 175 | 105 |
Chris Kunitz | 1999–2003 | 152 | 99 | 76 | 175 | 275 |
Perry Zoldak | 1976–1981 | 124 | 60 | 112 | 172 | 105 |
Jeff Legue | 2001–2005 | 152 | 67 | 90 | 157 | 147 |
Randy Strong | 1978–1982 | 136 | 69 | 83 | 152 | 276 |
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 |
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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 end of the 2023–24 season.
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]
As of August 30, 2025. [25]
No. | Nat. | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Mason West | Freshman (RS) | G | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-10-18 | Traverse City, Michigan | Peoria Mustangs ( NA3HL ) | — |
2 | ![]() | Kade Turner | Sophomore | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2003-02-04 | Calgary, Alberta | Okotoks Oilers ( BCHL ) | — |
3 | ![]() | Logan Heroux | Sophomore | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2003-05-30 | Middletown, New Jersey | Shreveport Mudbugs ( NAHL ) | — |
4 | ![]() | Christopher Lie | Sophomore | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 163 lb (74 kg) | 2005-07-27 | Hamar, Norway | Malmö Redhawks J20 ( J20 Nationell ) | — |
5 | ![]() | Valtteri Piironen | Senior | D | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 201 lb (91 kg) | 2001-09-11 | Joensuu, Finland | Long Island ( NCAA ) | — |
6 | ![]() | Xavier Jean-Louis | Senior | D | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2001-06-25 | Montreal, Quebec | Alaska ( NCAA ) | — |
7 | ![]() | Connor McGrath | Senior | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 2003-09-04 | Leroy, Saskatchewan | Humboldt Broncos ( SJHL ) | — |
8 | ![]() | Tyler Schleppe | Senior | F | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | 2001-11-11 | Vancouver, British Columbia | Langley Rivermen ( BCHL ) | — |
9 | ![]() | Nic Belpedio | Graduate | D | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 2001-10-09 | Skokie, Illinois | Colgate ( ECAC ) | — |
10 | ![]() | Jack Mesic | Junior | D | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2002-10-18 | Plymouth, Michigan | Western Michigan ( NCHC ) | — |
11 | ![]() | Brian Morse | Freshman (RS) | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2003-02-06 | Fresno, California | Maine ( HEA ) | — |
12 | ![]() | Caden Brown | Senior (RS) | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2003-06-22 | St. Louis, Missouri | Ohio State ( Big Ten ) | — |
13 | ![]() | Josh Zary | Senior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-10-15 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | Long Island ( NCAA ) | — |
15 | ![]() | Jack Silich | Sophomore | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | 2003-06-20 | Long Grove, Illinois | Cranbrook Bucks ( BCHL ) | — |
16 | ![]() | Holden Doell | Junior | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2003-12-01 | Martensville, Saskatchewan | Battlefords North Stars ( SJHL ) | — |
17 | ![]() | Luke Lisko | Sophomore | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2004-05-24 | Marine City, Michigan | Sherwood Park Crusaders ( BCHL ) | — |
18 | ![]() | Max Dukovac | Junior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 2002-02-19 | Aurora, Illinois | Miami ( NCHC ) | — |
19 | ![]() | Max Itagaki | Senior | F | 5' 5" (1.65 m) | 155 lb (70 kg) | 2002-06-18 | Glenview, Illinois | Army ( AHA ) | — |
20 | ![]() | Andrew Noel | Junior | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2001-01-02 | Maynard, Massachusetts | Nanaimo Clippers ( BCHL ) | — |
21 | ![]() | Tanner Rowe | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 179 lb (81 kg) | 2002-08-26 | Calumet, Michigan | Michigan ( Big Ten ) | — |
22 | ![]() | Emerson Goode | Junior | F | 5' 9" (1.75 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-10-16 | Anaheim, California | Odessa Jackalopes ( NAHL ) | — |
23 | ![]() | Riley Wallack | Senior | F | 6' 5" (1.96 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 2001-04-05 | South Surrey, British Columbia | Long Island ( NCAA ) | — |
24 | ![]() | Conner Brown | Sophomore | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2003-12-23 | Maplewood, Minnesota | Janesville Jets ( NAHL ) | — |
26 | ![]() | Jacob Badal | Senior | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2001-10-05 | Flushing, Michigan | Johnstown Tomahawks ( NAHL ) | — |
27 | ![]() | Gavin Best | Senior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2001-08-24 | Richfield, Minnesota | Michigan State ( Big Ten ) | — |
28 | ![]() | Trevor Taulien | Junior | D | 6' 4" (1.93 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 2003-04-14 | Crystal Lake, Illinois | Odessa Jackalopes ( NAHL ) | — |
30 | ![]() | Hobie Hedquist | Junior | G | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2003-02-14 | Heron Lake, Minnesota | North Dakota ( NCHC ) | — |
31 | ![]() | Noah Rupprecht | Junior | G | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2002-06-15 | Thief River Falls, Minnesota | Long Island ( NCAA ) | — |
34 | ![]() | Carter Rapalje | Junior (RS) | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2001-08-10 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Long Island ( NCAA ) | — |
55 | ![]() | Martin Lundberg | Sophomore | G | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 172 lb (78 kg) | 2005-02-04 | Furuberget, Norway | Mora IK J20 ( J20 Nationell ) | — |
As of July 1, 2025. [26]
= NHL All-Star team | = NHL All-Star [27] | = NHL All-Star [27] 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 |