Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey

Last updated
Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey
Hockey current event.svg Current season
Ferris State Bulldogs wordmark.png
University Ferris State University
Conference CCHA
Division I Division
First season 1975–76
Head coach Bob Daniels
32nd season, 487581112 (.460)
Assistant coaches
  • Drew Famulak
  • Mark Kaufman
  • Dave Cencer
Arena Ewigleben Arena
Big Rapids, Michigan
ColorsCrimson and gold [1]
   
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
2012
NCAA Tournament Frozen Four
2012
NCAA Tournament appearances
2003, 2012, 2014, 2016
Conference Tournament championships
2016
Conference regular season championships
2002–03, 2011–12, 2013–14
Current uniform
WCHA-Uniform-FSU.png

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]

Contents

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 Arena.jpg
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 2009-10 Ferris State Bulldogs hockey team starting lineup.JPG
Ferris State's starting lineup for a 2009–10 game against Michigan
Ferris State's Ewigleben Arena, June 2015 Ferris State Hockey Arena.jpg
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]

TenureCoachYearsRecordPct.
1992–present Bob Daniels 31487–581–112.460
1990–1991 Bob Mancini 236–32–12.525
1986–1990 John Perpich 454–92–17.383
1986 Peter Esdale1†6–9–1.406
1982–1986 Dick Bertrand 456–74–9.435
1975–1982 Rick Duffett 7119–83–7.586
Totals6 coaches48 seasons758–871–158.468

† Esdale replaced Bertrand in January 1986.

Awards and honors

NCAA

AHCA First Team All-Americans

AHCA Second Team All-Americans

WCHA

Individual awards

All-WCHA

First Team All-WCHA

Second team all-wcha

Third Team All-WCHA

WCHA All-Rookie Team

CCHA

Individual awards

All-CCHA

First Team All-CCHA

Second team all-ccha

CCHA All-Rookie Team

Olympians

Source: [21]

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

NamePositionFerris State TenureTeamYearFinish
Bob Nardella Defense1988–1991 Flag of Italy.svg Italy 1998, 2006 12th, 11th
Norm Krumpschmid Center1988–1992 Flag of Austria.svg Austria 1998 14th
Jason Blake Center1994–1995 Flag of the United States.svg USA 2006 8th
Chris Kunitz Left wing1999–2003 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada 2014 Gold medal icon.svg Gold
Chad Billins Defenseman2008–2012 Flag of the United States.svg USA 2018 7th
Pat Nagle Goaltender2007–2011 Flag of the United States.svg USA 2022 5th

Statistical leaders

Career points leaders

Source: [22]

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
Paul Lowden 1983–1987158101107208
Jim Baker 1978–198213782123205
John DePourcq 1987–199114573130203
Peter Lowden 1983–198715874125199
Rod Schluter 1984–19891649396189
Paul Cook 1979–19831397699175
Chris Kunitz 1999–20031529976175
Perry Zoldak 1976–198112460112172
Jeff Legue 2001–20051526790157
Randy Strong 1978–19821366983152

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

PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
C. J. Motte 2011–2015127767966491227215.9262.13
Phil Osaer 1998–2001593198242261162.9162.18
Pat Nagle 2007–201110158014542112245.9162.32
Taylor Nelson 2008–20127040313520101574.9172.34
Mitch O'Keefe 2005–20088650743139152276.9032.68

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]

Current roster

As of September 18, 2023. [25]

No. S/P/CPlayerClassPosHeightWeightDoBHometownPrevious teamNHL rights
1 Flag of Georgia (U.S. state).svg Logan SteinSenior G 6' 2" (1.88 m)212 lb (96 kg)2001-04-26 Suwanee, Georgia Waterloo  ( USHL )
2 Flag of Michigan.svg Travis ShoudySophomore D 5' 9" (1.75 m)173 lb (78 kg)2002-03-15 Marysville, Michigan Cedar Rapids  ( USHL )
3 Flag of Tennessee.svg Ben SchultheisJunior D 6' 3" (1.91 m)207 lb (94 kg)2000-02-17 Mount Juliet, Tennessee Dubuque  ( USHL )
4 Flag of Michigan.svg Drew CooperSenior D 6' 1" (1.85 m)193 lb (88 kg)2000-08-28 Ann Arbor, Michigan Coquitlam  ( BCHL )
6 Flag of Washington.svg Nico DeVitaJunior D 6' 2" (1.88 m)202 lb (92 kg)2001-05-24 Bellevue, Washington New Hampshire  ( HEA )
6 Flag of Michigan.svg Jack MesicFreshman D 5' 9" (1.75 m)176 lb (80 kg)2002-10-18 Plymouth, Michigan North Iowa  ( NAHL )
7 Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Connor McGrathSophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m)184 lb (83 kg)2003-09-04 Leroy, Saskatchewan Humboldt  ( SJHL )
8 Flag of Michigan.svg Austin McCarthySenior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)1999-03-01 Ludington, Michigan Topeka  ( NAHL )
9 Flag of Michigan.svg Nick NardecchiaJunior F 5' 9" (1.75 m)177 lb (80 kg)2001-01-01 Macomb, Michigan Lincoln  ( USHL )
10 Flag of Saskatchewan.svg Holden DoellFreshman F 5' 11" (1.8 m)185 lb (84 kg)2003-12-01 Martensville, Saskatchewan Battlefords  ( SJHL )
11 Flag of Wisconsin.svg Jacob DirksSenior F 6' 1" (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)1999-09-15 Mindoro, Wisconsin Chippewa  ( NAHL )
12 Flag of Alberta.svg Luigi BenincasaFreshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m)159 lb (72 kg)2002-10-07 Edmonton, Alberta Spruce Grove  ( AJHL )
15 Flag of British Columbia.svg Tyler SchleppeSophomore F 6' 4" (1.93 m)220 lb (100 kg)2001-11-11 Vancouver, British Columbia Langley  ( BCHL )
16 Flag of Manitoba.svg Caiden GaultSophomore F 6' 1" (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)2002-04-16 Oakbank, Manitoba Spruce Grove  ( AJHL )
18 Flag of Alberta.svg Kaleb ErgangJunior F 5' 10" (1.78 m)165 lb (75 kg)2000-12-31 Spruce Grove, Alberta Whitecourt  ( AJHL )
19 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Štěpán PokornýSenior F 6' 0" (1.83 m)196 lb (89 kg)2000-06-08 Kolín, Czech Republic Madison  ( USHL )
20 Flag of Massachusetts.svg Andrew NoelSophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m)200 lb (91 kg)2001-01-02 Maynard, Massachusetts Nanaimo  ( BCHL )
21 Flag of Michigan.svg Jason BrancheauGraduate F 5' 8" (1.73 m)175 lb (79 kg)1999-08-15 Brownstown, Michigan Amarillo  ( NAHL )
22 Flag of North Carolina.svg Nick HaleSenior D 5' 8" (1.73 m)168 lb (76 kg)1999-05-07 Raleigh, North Carolina Holy Cross  ( AHA )
23 Flag of Michigan.svg Antonio VenutoSenior F 6' 3" (1.91 m)215 lb (98 kg)2000-02-26 Whitmore Lake, Michigan Dubuque  ( USHL )
24 Flag of Michigan.svg Brenden MacLarenGraduate F 5' 11" (1.8 m)196 lb (89 kg)1998-11-30 Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan Fairbanks  ( NAHL )
25 Flag of Michigan.svg Zach FaremouthJunior F 6' 3" (1.91 m)210 lb (95 kg)2000-01-04 Jackson, Michigan Des Moines  ( USHL )
26 Flag of Michigan.svg Jacob BadalSophomore F 6' 0" (1.83 m)205 lb (93 kg)2001-10-05 Flushing, Michigan Johnstown  ( NAHL )
27 Flag of California.svg Emerson GoodeFreshman F 5' 9" (1.75 m)180 lb (82 kg)2002-10-16 Anaheim, California Odessa Jackalopes  ( NAHL )
28 Flag of Illinois.svg Trevor TaulienFreshman D 6' 4" (1.93 m)217 lb (98 kg)2003-04-14 Crystal Lake, Illinois Odessa Jackalopes  ( NAHL )
30 Flag of Michigan.svg Joey HensonSophomore G 5' 11" (1.8 m)196 lb (89 kg)2001-08-15 Troy, Michigan Philadelphia Little Flyers  ( EHL )
31 Flag of British Columbia.svg Noah GiesbrechtJunior G 6' 4" (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)1999-04-18 White Rock, British Columbia Windsor  (OUA)
34 Flag of Michigan.svg Nick GrimaldiJunior 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