Finlandia inks trio for this fall

The Finlandia men's hockey team announced three player signings for this fall with one being a local product coming home to play collegiately.

Forwards Reed Laulainen (Minneapolis, Minn.) and Ryan Sullivan (Marquette) and defenseman Randy Highbaugh (Shorewood, Ill.) will suit up for the Lions and head coach Joe Burcar.

Sullivan, a 5-8, 165-pounder, played for the Helena Bighorns of the North American Hockey league the past two seasons, recording five goals and four assists last year. Before Helena, Sullivan spent one year with the Springfield Spirit of the NAHL and two years with the Marquette Electricians midget AAA team.

"Ryan is a hard worker and a great penalty killer," Burcar said in the Daily Mining Gazette. "He should be able to step up right away and make an impact."

Sullivan, 21, will major in nursing.

More details in the Gazette story here.

Welch and Scheible to lead the Bulldogs

Big Rapids native Nick Scheible will spend
his senior season as a Ferris State assistant captain

Ferris State has announced that sophomore defenseman Adam Welch will serve as captain of the 2005-06 Bulldogs hockey team.

Big Rapids hometown product and senior right wing Nick Scheible was honored as an assistant captain for the second consecutive season.

Welch, who was named to Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) All-Rookie Honorable Mention Team for 2004-05, registered six points with one goal and five assists in 36 contests this last campaign.

A two-time CCHA All-Academic Special Mention pick, Scheible netted a career-high seven points this last season with a career-best tying four goals and three assists in 31 games.

Ferris State recorded a 13-22-4 overall record and a 7-17-4 CCHA mark in the 2004-05 season. The Bulldogs will open the 2005-06 campaign on Friday, October 7th with their annual Crimson and Gold Intrasquad Game at FSU’s Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids.

The Bulldogs then host the University of Western Ontario Mustangs Saturday, October 8th, in an exhibition game at the Ewigleben Arena.

Please click here for the official Ferris State Press Release.

Bulldogs open at the Stampede

The Ferris State Bulldogs have announced their 2005-2006 schedule and will begin on the road at the Maverick Stampede in Omaha, Nebraska on October 14th and 15th.

The ‘Dogs first opponent will be the New Hampshire Wildcats on Friday and then they’ll face off with either the host Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks or Black Knights of Army on Saturday.

The Bulldogs will begin their CCHA league schedule with a pair of games against the Lake Superior State Lakers in Sault Ste. Marie on October 21st and 22nd and play their first home game at Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids on October 29th against the Bowling Green Falcons.

Ferris State’s non-conference schedule also includes Bemidji State, Mercyhurst, Boston College and either Denver or Princeton at the Denver Cup in late December.

Last season, the Bulldogs finished 13-22-4 and 7-17-4 in conference play.

Click here for the full Ferris State schedule.

Lerg Stops Goalie of the Year Honors

Photo courtesy of Robert Meyer

Omaha Lancers goalie Jeff Lerg was named USA Hockey's Goalie of the Year and Junior Player of the Year.

The 19-year-old Livonia native will suit up for the Michigan State Spartans this fall and will compete with former Lancers goalie Dominic Vicari, a junior from Clinton Township, for playing time.

Lerg set a new United States Hockey League (USHL) record for wins in a single season with 36, was honored as the USHL Player of the Year and USHL Goaltender of the Year. In addition, Lerg earned All-USHL First Team honors, Itech/Goalies World Goalie of the Month twice, the Player of the Week award on Sept. 29, 2004, named to the 2005 Prospects / All-Star Game and led the league with a goals against average of just 2.16.

Lerg also helped his Lancers team to a share of the regular season championship and the Anderson Cup.

The recipient of the Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year Award is chosen from the pool of goaltenders that annually attends the USA Hockey National Goaltenders Camp and the USA Hockey Select 16 and Select 17 Festivals.