Ferris State's run ends in regional final

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State's chance of completing their unfinished business from two years ago was nixed on Saturday night after losing a 2-1 double-overtime thriller to North Dakota at the Midwest Regional Championship in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Both teams mirrored each other from the beginning, with neither one able to find the back of the net in the first period.

The Bulldogs grabbed the initial lead at the 7:31 mark of the second, thanks to senior Cory Kane's 14th goal of the campaign from between the faceoff circles. Fellow classmate Andy Huff and junior netminder C.J. Motte were both credited with assists on that play.

Just over three minutes later, North Dakota was able to even-up matters while on the man-advantage. Nick Mattson fed a one-timer to Paul LaDue at the blue line, which was subsequently deflected in by Stephane Pattyn from just outside the crease.

The contest remained deadlocked at one goal apiece until Connor Gaarder of North Dakota netted the game-winner off a back-handed redirect in front with 1:28 elapsed in the second overtime session. On a play that was eerily similar to the previous goal, North Dakota's Mattson and LaDue both picked-up their second helpers of the evening.

Despite the loss, Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels was very supportive of his team after the game.

"First of all, I want congratulate North Dakota in winning tonight and playing a great game," said Daniels. "[But] I want to congratulate our players as well. They really played well, and, more importantly, it's been a great ride. I'm exceedingly proud and realize that we're going to look back and be appreciative of this year. Its a little painful right now, but I am very appreciative of the efforts of our team."

The Bulldogs outshot their opposition 45-26, increasing their shot production gradually as the game wore on.

Motte had 24 saves to finish his second season as a starter with a 28-9-3 ledger. At the other end of the ice, Zane Gothberg made 44 stops to notch his 20th win of the season.

Senior captain Scott Czarnowczan, Kane and Motte were named to the All-Midwest Regional Tournament Team, where they were joined by North Dakota's Rocco Grimaldi, Gaarder and LaDue.

Ferris State finishes the 2013-2014 season with an overall record of 29-11-3.

Ferris State 1, Colgate 0: In Friday's opening round of 16, freshman Gerald Mayhew knocked in a loose puck at 10:01 in the first period to advance the Bulldogs to the Midwest Regional Championship. Motte stopped all 35 shots to secure his fifth shutout of the season.

WCHA announces 2013-2014 honors

WCHA Press Release

 

MADISON, Wis. – University of Alaska forward Cody Kunyk was chosen as Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year and the University of Alabama in Huntsville’s Chad Brears earned WCHA Outstanding-Student Athlete of the Year honors to highlight 2013-14 men’s awards announced by the conference today.

 

The league’s five other major individual awards went to University of Alaska defenseman Colton Parayko as WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, Lake Superior State University forward Alex Globke as WCHA Rookie of the Year, Alaska’s Cody Kunyk as WCHA Scoring Champion, Minnesota State University’s Cole Huggins as WCHA Goaltending Champion, and Bob Daniels of Ferris State University as WCHA Coach of the Year.

 

Kunyk (Sherwood Park, AB) finished the regular season of his senior campaign as the WCHA scoring champion, accruing 34 points on 17 goals and 17 assists in Alaska’s 28 conference games. In the 34-game regular-season schedule, he scored a single-season career-high 42 points with a WCHA-high 22 goals to go with 20 assists. Also named to the All-WCHA First Team and to the WCHA All-Academic Team, Kunyk has recorded five multiple-goal outings this season, including a career-best four goals in the Nanooks’ victory over Alaska Anchorage on March 7. That mark was achieved by only three other collegians during the 2013-14 year. He leads the nation with seven game-winning goals, scored six power-play and two shorthanded goals and owns a stellar +14 plus/minus rating. Kunyk currently ranks 13th all-time on the program’s scoring list with 132 points (60g, 72a) in 145 career games.

 

Brears (Cold Lake, AB), a forward at Alabama Huntsville, was chosen by member team Faculty Representatives as WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year. Majoring in Mechanical Engineering, Brears has maintained a 4.0 GPA in one of the institution’s most difficult degree programs and despite the constant demands of being a student-athlete and the extensive travel involved as a member of the Chargers’ hockey team. He earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors in mid-February, is a member of the WCHA All-Academic Team, and is one of his team’s leaders both on and off the ice. He is an enthusiastic participant in mentoring activities with local school children and an all-around great representative of the ethos of college hockey. In 35 games played this season, Brears tied for third on the team in points with 10 and was second on the team in goals scored with six. Brears’ on-ice moment of the year came at Bemidji State on Feb. 28 when he fed a pretty pass to Jack Prince who scored the game-winning goal for a key road victory over a long-time rival. The WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award is determined from nominations made by the member institutions and each institution then has one final vote.

 

The league’s 10 head coaches voted Alaska defenseman Colton Parayko (St. Albert, AB) as the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. An All-WCHA First Team selection as just a sophomore, Parayko finished his second collegiate season as one of the leading offensive defenseman in the league, ranking tied for third with 18 points (4g, 14a) in the 28-game league slate. In Alaska’s 34 regular-season outings, he tallied 23 points (4g, 19a) and led all defenders with 19 assists. Defensively, he is always matched up against the opponents’ top lines and is a leader in ice time. He blocked a nation’s second-best 2.65 blocks per game (90) and owns a standout +17 plus/minus rating. Then Nanooks went 13-5-0 when he recorded at least one point, compared to their 4-8-4 mark when he went without a point. He has had five multiple-point outings during the season and has scored all four of his goals on the power-play.

 

Honored by voters as the WCHA Rookie of the Year for 2013-14 is Lake Superior State University forward Alex Globke, who also earned All-WCHA Rookie Team accolades. Globke (Waterford, MI), who produced 31 points (12g, 19a) to lead the Lakers and played in all 36 games, was one of his club’s most consistent offensive players. As a freshman among a senior-laden squad, Globke produced points at a rapid pace. He lead the WCHA in freshman goals, assists, and points. He currently sits tied for seventh nationally in rookie scoring, while also finishing eighth in overall conference scoring. Globke also finished tied for sixth in overall assists in league play. He produced like an experienced veteran and helped anchor one of the most effective lines in the league with seniors Colin Campbell and Dan Radke. With center Radke out for two straight weeks and gone from the top line, Globke added four assists over the four games against conference foes Michigan Tech and Bemidji State. He has been named conference Rookie of the Week. Globke began his collegiate career with 15 points in his first 12 games including seven in his first six.

 

The WCHA Scoring Champion for 2013-14 is Alaska’s Cody Kunyk while the league goaltending champion is Minnesota State University rookie Cole Huggins. Huggins (Centennial, CO), who has three shutouts in his last four games played heading into the playoffs, owns an overall 17-7-1 won-loss record, a 1.96 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He has started 15 of the last 17 games for the Mavericks, ranks ninth in the nation in goals-against average, 27th in save percentage and his school-record tying five shutouts on the year is tied for third. Huggins led the league with a 1.73 goals-against average and .794 winning percentage (he was 17-4-1 in league games), tied for the league lead with a .927 save percentage and was named WCHA Rookie of the Week following MSU’s games with Bowling Green (Nov. 15-16) and WCHA Defensive Player of the Week after the Mavericks earned a league road sweep at Lake Superior State (Feb. 28-March 1). He had a career-high 33 saves in 1-0 shutout victory vs. Bowling Green Nov. 9.

 

Chosen as the WCHA Coach of the Year is Bob Daniels of Ferris State University, who led the Bulldogs to the regular season title as first-year league members. In the midst of his 22nd season at the helm and a two-time National Coach of the Year Award recipient, Daniels led the Bulldogs to their second conference championship in the last three years as FSU became only the third program ever to win both the WCHA and the former Central Collegiate Hockey Association titles. The Bulldogs led the league race from wire-to-wire in claiming the fabled MacNaughton Cup and securing the number one seed for the league playoffs. During the 2013-14 season, the Bulldogs established a new school record under Daniels with a nation-leading 16-game unbeaten streak, which lasted from late October until early January. Ferris State did not drop a conference game until the middle of January and the Bulldogs finished the regular-season with a first-place 20-6-2 league slate.

 

Under Daniels’ leadership, Ferris State has compiled a nation-leading 25 wins (25-9-3), the fourth most in school history, and the Bulldogs own one of the country’s top marks on home ice with a 14-1-1 record inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena. FSU, ranked as high as second and among the nation’s top 10 teams each of the last 15 weeks, went unbeaten at home (13-0-1) in conference action and posted its sixth-straight season with increased home attendance. This season’s average of 2,141 fans per game was its best in 32 years. Additionally, Ferris State is also presently sixth in the national PairWise and RPI rankings with the Bulldogs eyeing their third overall NCAA Tournament bid, including the second in three seasons following the memorable 2011-12 run to the national championship game at the NCAA Frozen Four.

 

Four conference teams – Alaska, Alaska Anchorage, Ferris State and Minnesota State – are represented on the All-WCHA First Team, with both the Nanooks and the Mavericks having two honorees each. Named to the All-WCHA First Team, with statistics for league games, were forwards Cody Kunyk (Sr., Alaska, 28 gp, 17-17=34), Matt Bailey (Sr., Alaska Anchorage, 28 gp, 12- 15=27), and Matt Leitner (Jr., Minnesota State, 26 gp, 8-25=33), defensemen Colton Parayko (So., Alaska, 28 gp, 4-14=18) and Zach Palmquist (Jr., Minnesota State, 28 gp, 3-16=19), and goaltender C.J. Motte (Jr., Ferris State, 19-6-2, 2.29, .927).

 

Voted to the All-WCHA Second Team were forwards Jean- Paul Lafontaine (Jr., Minnesota State, 28 gp, 16-16=32), Colton Beck (Sr., Alaska, 28 gp, 11-19=30) and Garrett Thompson (Sr., Ferris State, 28 gp, 11-7=18), defensemen Scott Czarnowczan (Sr., Ferris State, 28 gp, 4-13=17) and Kevin Czuczman (Jr., Lake Superior State, 28 gp, 6-9=15) and goaltender Cole Huggins (Fr., Minnesota State, 17-4-1, 1.73, .927).

 

Named to the All-WCHA Third Team for 2013-14 were forwards Tyler Morley (So., Alaska, 25 gp, 15-14=29), Zach Lehrke (Sr., Minnesota State, 24 gp, 7-18=25) and Johnny McInnis (Sr., Minnesota State, 28 gp, 17-11=28), defensemen Matt Prapavessis (Jr., Bemidji State, 28 gp, 5-12=17) and Jason Binkley (Jr., Ferris State, 26 gp, 2-16=18), and goaltender Kevin Kapalka (Sr., Lake Superior State, 8-9-0, 2.62, .924).

 

And voted to the All-WCHA Rookie Team were forwards Alex Globke (Fr., Lake Superior State, 28 gp, 9-12=21), Marcus Basara (Fr., Alaska, 28 gp, 9-12=21) and Kyle Schempp (Fr., Ferris State, 28 gp, 6-12=18), defensemen Shane Hanna (Fr., Michigan Tech, 28 gp, 4-18=22), Ruslan Pedan (Fr., Bemidji State, 28 gp, 3-8=11) and Sean Flanagan (Fr., Minnesota State, 24 gp, 5-6=11), and goaltender Cole Huggins (Fr., Minnesota State, 17-4-1, 1.73, .927).

 

A repeat all-league honoree from 2012-13 was forward Matt Leitner of Minnesota State, who was an All-WCHA First Team selection this season after being All-WCHA Third Team a season ago. Alaska forward Cody Kunyk, who was an All-WCHA First Team choice, was an All-CCHA Second Team honoree in 2011-12 while Nanooks’ forward Tyler Morley, who was All-WCHA Third Team, was a member of the All-CCHA Rookie Team in 2012-13. And Lake Superior goaltender Kevin Kapalka, an All-WCHA Third Team selection, was named to the All-CCHA Rookie Team in 2010-11.

 

Seven players who were named as major award winners and/or to this season’s all-league teams were also honored as WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2013-14 back on Feb. 13. They were forward Chad Brears of Alabama Huntsville (WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year), forward Matt Bailey of Alaska Anchorage (All-WCHA First Team), defenseman Colton Parayko of Alaska (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team), Bemidji State defenseman Matt Prapavessis (All-WCHA Third Team), Ferris State defenseman Jason Binkley (All-WCHA Third Team), Lake Superior State defenseman Kevin Czuczman (All-WCHA Second Team) and Lakers’ goaltender Kevin Kapalka (All-WCHA Third Team). To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar- Athlete, student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his or her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.

 

Major award winners and/or members named to all-league teams who were also earned 2013-14 WCHA All-Academic Team honors were: Chad Brears of Alabama Huntsville (WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year), Matt Bailey of Alaska Anchorage (All-WCHA First Team), Alaska’s Colton Beck (All- WCHA Second Team), Cody Kunyk (WCHA Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team), Tyler Morley (All-WCHA Third Team) and Colton Parayko (WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team), Bemidji State’s Matt Prapavessis (All-WCHA Third Team), Ferris State’s Scott Czarnowczan (All-WCHA Second Team) and C.J. Motte (All-WCHA First Team), Lake Superior State’s Kevin Czuczman (All-WCHA Second Team) and Kevin Kapalka (All-WCHA Third Team), and Minnesota State’s Zach Lehrke (All-WCHA Third Team) and Zach Palmquist (All-WCHA First Team).

 

Voting for WCHA awards and all-league teams is done by member team head and assistant coaches and captains or sports information directors. Each team receives four ballots for a total of 40 voters. Points for awards and all-league teams are awarded on a 5-point (1st team vote), 3-point (2nd team vote), and 1-point (3rd team vote) basis. The WCHA Outstanding Student- Athlete of the Year award is administered by member team Faculty Athletic Representatives. The WCHA Defensive Player of the Year is chosen by the league’s 10 head coaches.

 

WCHA Player of the Year

Cody Kunyk • Forward, Senior, University of Alaska (Sherwood Park, AB)

 

WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year

Chad Brears • Forward, Sophomore, University of Alabama in Huntsville (Cold Lake, AB)

 

WCHA Defensive Player of the Year

Colton Parayko • Defenseman, Sophomore, University of Alaska (St. Albert, AB)

 

WCHA Rookie of the Year

Alex Globke • Forward, Freshman, Lake Superior State University (Waterford, MI)

 

WCHA Scoring Champion

Cody Kunyk • Forward, Senior, University of Alaska (Sherwood Park, AB)

 

WCHA Goaltending Champion

Cole Huggins • Freshman, Goaltender, Minnesota State University (Centennial, CO)

 

WCHA Coach of the Year

Bob Daniels • Ferris State University

 

 

2013-14 All-WCHA First Team

Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2013-14 WCHA Stats

F Cody Kunyk Alaska 5-11 197 Sr Sherwood Park, AB 28 gp, 17-17=34

F Matt Bailey Alaska Anchorage 6-1 196 Sr Oakbank, MB 28 gp, 12-15=27

F Matt Leitner Minnesota State 5-9 175 Jr Los Alamitos, CA 26 gp, 8-25=33

D Colton Parayko Alaska 6-5 218 So St. Albert, AB 28 gp, 4-14=18

D Zach Palmquist Minnesota State 6-0 175 Jr South St. Paul, MN 28 gp, 3-16=19

G C.J. Motte Ferris State 6-0 190 Jr St. Clair, MI 19-6-2, 2.29, .927

 

2013-14 All-WCHA Second Team

Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2013-14 WCHA Stats

F Jean-Paul Lafontaine Minnesota State 5-10 172 Jr Oxford, MI 28 gp, 16-16=32

F Colton Beck Alaska 5-11 187 Sr Langley, BC 28 gp, 11-19=30

F Garrett Thompson Ferris State 6-2 191 Sr Traverse City, MI 28 gp, 11-7=18

D Scott Czarnowczan Ferris State 5-10 176 Sr Macomb, MI 28 gp, 4-13=17

D Kevin Czuczman Lake Superior State 6-3 205 Jr Port Elgin, ON 28 gp, 6-9=15

G Cole Huggins Minnesota State 6-0 180 Fr Centennial, CO 17-4-1, 1.73, .927

 

2013-14 All-WCHA Third Team

Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2013-14 WCHA Stats

F Tyler Morley Alaska 5-8 174 So Burnaby, BC 25 gp, 15-14=29

F Zach Lehrke Minnesota State 5-8 170 Sr Park Rapids, MN 24 gp, 7-18=25

F Johnny McInnis Minnesota State 6-1 195 Sr Boston, MA 28 gp, 17-11=28

D Matt Prapavessis Bemidji State 6-1 183 Jr Oakville, ON 28 gp, 5-12=17

D Jason Binkley Ferris State 5-9 191 Jr Powell, OH 26 gp, 2-16=18

G Kevin Kapalka Lake Superior State 6-1 206 Sr Mississauga, ON 8-9-0, 2.62, .924

 

2013-14 All-WCHA Rookie Team

Pos Name Team Ht Wt Yr Hometown 2013-14 WCHA Stats

F Alex Globke Lake Superior State 6-3 206 Fr Waterford, MI 28 gp, 9-12=21

F Marcus Basara Alaska 6-0 197 Fr Port Moody, BC 28 gp, 9-12=21

F Kyle Schempp Ferris State 6-0 178 Fr Saginaw, MI 28 gp, 6-12=18

D Shane Hanna Michigan Tech 5-11 190 Fr Salmon Arm, BC 28 gp, 4-18=22

D Ruslan Pedan Bemidji State 6-0 190 Fr Moscow, Russia 28 gp, 3-8=11

D Sean Flanagan Minnesota State 6-1 180 Fr Kindersly, SK 24 gp, 5-6=11

G Cole Huggins Minnesota State 6-0 180 Fr Centennial, CO 17-4-1, 1.73, .927

FSU's Daniels named National Coach of the Year

Ferris State Athletics Release

For his efforts in leading Ferris State University to its first NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey “Frozen Four” appearance in school history, Bob Daniels has been chosen winner of the 2012 Spencer Penrose Award as Division I Men’s Ice Hockey flexxCOACH/AHCA Coach of the Year. For Daniels, this marks his second Penrose Award, having been previously honored by his peers in 2003. He will receive his award on Saturday evening, April 28, during the American Hockey Coaches Association annual convention in Naples, FL.

Entering Thursday afternoon’s semifinal contest vs. Union College, Daniels’ Bulldogs have compiled an overall record of 25-11-5, capturing the regular season title in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association along the way.

Ferris advanced to this year’s Frozen Four in Tampa by virtue of winning the NCAA Midwest Regional in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on March 23-24. FSU defeated the University of Denver in the opening game, 2-1, and came back to down Cornell University by the same score in the final.

Daniels, this year’s CCHA Coach of the Year, is completing his 20th season at Ferris State. A 1982 graduate of Michigan State University, Daniels got his coaching start in junior hockey, three times earning Coach of the Year honors for the Hennessey Engineers of the North American League from 1983-1986. He earned a master’s degree in sports organization while serving as a graduate assistant at Miami University during the 1986-87 season. From there, he spent two years as an assistant at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Daniels first arrived at Ferris State in 1989 and served as an assistant under John Perpich for one year and Bob Mancini for two. He was named head coach in 1992 and his career mark stands at 333-361-79. In his previous Coach of the Year season, he led Ferris State to a record of 31-10-1 in 2002-2003.

The longest serving coach in FSU history, Daniels has coached eight All-Americans (prior to this year’s announcements), including 2003 Hobey Baker Hat Trick Award Finalist Chris Kunitz, the first ever CCHA Player of the Year to come from Ferris State. Daniels has also been very active with USA Hockey and the American Hockey Coaches Association.

Assisting Daniels this season were Drew Famulak and Mark Kaufman. Famulak will also be honored in Naples as it was previously announced that he will receive the Terry Flanagan Award, recognizing an assistant coach for a career body of work.

The runners-up for this year’s AHCA Men’s Division I Coach of the Year award were Rick Bennett of Union College and Norm Bazin of UMass-Lowell.

The Spencer Penrose Award is named in memory of the Colorado Springs benefactor who built the Broadmoor Hotel Complex, site of the first ten NCAA championship hockey tournaments. All AHCA Coach of the Year awards are selected by the head coaches in each division and are sponsored by flexxCOACH, the leader in delivering online coaching education for sports and the development of software products designed to assist coaches in creating drills, planning practices and designing fitness programs for athlete development.

Daniels earns 300th win in series sweep

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State kicked-off the new year in grand style, grabbing two wins on the road over Bowling Green to move into third-place in the CCHA standings.

The Bulldogs were able to overcome a 1-0 deficit going into the third period on Friday, scoring four unanswered goals to give head coach Bob Daniels his 300th career victory.

The barrage of scores began just three minutes into the frame, when sophomore Kyle Bonis kncoked in a rebound from the slot. Assisting on that play were defensemen Zach Redmond and Chad Billins.

At 6:31, Ferris State would earn their first lead of the contest following a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle by senior Todd Pococke that snuck past Falcons' goaltender Nick Eno.

A mere 34 seconds later, sophomore Matthew Kirzinger made it a 3-1 game thanks to a nifty set-up pass by linemate Mike Embach. After receiving a pass from Jordie Johnston, Embach carried the puck into the Bowling Green zone, where he used a backhanded pass to hit-up a wide open Kirzinger on the left side.

The Falcons pulled Eno in the final minute looking to generate some offense, but their plan would backfire as Bonis notched his second marker of the night with 18 seconds remaining.

Bulldogs' goaltender Pat Nagle held a 15-13 advantage in saves over Eno.

Ferris State pulled off another come-from-behind victory the following night, scoring three straight goals after being down by a 1-0 margin early in the opening stanza.

Redmond scored the game-tying goal just past the halfway mark of the period when his shot from the right side bounced off netminder Andrew Hammond and was accidentally pushed in by a Bowling Green defender.

With less than five minutes to go in the third, sophomore Travis Ouellette broke the 1-1 deadlock by finishing off a one-timer from senior Mike Fillinger.

Johnston padded the Bulldogs' lead with an empy-netter in the final seconds of the game.

Hammond finished with 22 stops, while Nagle had 16.

Ferris State (11-8-4 overall, 8-6-3-2 CCHA) is set to face Michigan (13-6-4 overall, 10-4-1-0) in a home-and-home series this weekend. The Bulldogs travel to Ann Arbor for Friday's contest, before returning to Big Rapids the following night for the series finale.

Zach Redmond selected FSU captain

Ferris State Athletics Press Release

A new season brings about changes and one for the Ferris State University men's ice hockey program will be the Bulldogs' captain for the 2010-11 campaign as senior defenseman Zach Redmond (Traverse City) has been tabbed to occupy the all-important leadership role. The announcement was made by FSU men's ice hockey head coach Bob Daniels.

With the selection, Redmond becomes the 39th individual in the Ferris State program's history to wear the captain's 'C' on his game sweater.

Redmond, a 2009-10 All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Second-Team honoree, was recently selected to the CCHA Preseason All-Conference First Team for the upcoming 2010-11 campaign. The preseason recognition marked the third consecutive season in which the Bulldog defender has earned such accolades as he attained honorable mention kudos in the previous two seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10).

This past 2009-10 season, Redmond finished fourth on the squad in scoring with a career season-best 27 points on six goals and 21 assists, which tied career single-season highs, in 40 contests. The 6-2, 205-pound blueliner not only recorded a plus five efficiency rating, but also accumulated a team-leading 67 blocked shots to go with five power-play goals and three game-winning lamplighters a season ago en route to garnering second-team kudos by MichiganCollegeHockey.com (MiCHO). Redmond, who earned CCHA Defenseman of the Week recognition three times (Oct. 26, Dec. 14, and Jan. 11) last season, chalked up a team fourth-most tying five multiple-point game performances and generated a squad third-most tying two multi-assist game efforts in 2009-10. The 2008-09 FSU Most Valuable Player Award recipient generated at least a point in 21 of the team's 40 2009-10 season outings. He completed this past season tied for 32nd place among the CCHA's overall points leaders while tying for 21st place in assists on the league's overall statistical leaders list.

In 115 career contests as a Bulldog, Redmond has presently amassed 70 points on 15 goals with 55 assists. He also has nettted eight power-play lamplighters, one short-handed goal, four game-winning tallies, 176 blocked shots, and 13 multi-point games to go with a plus 19 efficiency rating. A two-time (2008-09 and 2009-10) FSU Dean's Academic Award recipient, Redmond has etched his name among Ferris State's all-time top defensemen by currently ranking 12th in career assists, 13th in points, and 16th in goals.

The Ferris State skater was drafted in the 2008 National Hockey League's (NHL) Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers with the 184th overall pick in the seventh round.

Photo courtesy of Ferris State Athletics

Spartans earn split with Ferris State

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

The battle for sole possession of second place in the CCHA standings remains unsettled, as Ferris State and Michigan State each grabbed a victory at home over the weekend.

Before a sellout crowd at the Ewigleben Ice Arena, Ferris State opened-up the series in convincing fashion on Friday night with a 4-1 decision.

Despite a slow start, the Bulldogs pulled together a monstrous second period by scoring three goals within a nine-minute span.

Senior winger Aaron Lewicki initiated the run on a rebound at 6:51 after linemates Blair Riley and Justin Menke could not get their shots past Spartans’ goaltender Drew Palmisano.

Second-chance scoring opportunities played a factor in the next Ferris State goal, as junior Mike Fillinger scored the game-winner after Todd Pococke’s blast from between the circles fell just outside of the crease.

Derek Graham and Pococke would tally their second assists of the contest on a Kyle Bonis goal with a little over four minutes remaining in the frame.

Michigan State managed to get on the scoreboard early in the third, thanks in part to a roughing call on the Bulldogs’ Matt Case. After taking a pass from Corey Tropp, Torey Krug fired a shot on netminder Pat Nagle from the left side, which was redirected from just outside the crease by Derek Grant.

Ferris State padded their lead with a power-play goal by center Justin Menke at 13:45.

The Bulldogs held the advantage in shots on net, 29-23.

With vengeance on their minds, the Spartans returned the favor on Saturday night with a 3-2 victory.

It didn’t take long for Michigan State to strike, as Andrew Rowe banged one in on Nagle at the 4:51 mark, following a missed opportunity by Matt Crandell.

The Spartans would hold their lead until late in the first, when Menke tied the game on a Ferris State power-play.

Jay Sprague put Michigan State back on top with his first of the campaign midway through the second stanza, only to have the Bulldogs’ Chad Billins answer back with a short-handed marker just minutes later.

With 12:31 gone by in the third period, the Spartans regained control, following some key work from behind the net by Daultan Levielle. Working along the right boards, Levielle passed the puck to a speeding Dustin Gazely, who chipped in the game winning-goal from the left side of the crease.

Palmisano held a slight edge in saves over Nagle, 25-23.

“It was a good hockey game,” said Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels. “I’m disappointed obviously with the end result, but I’m not disappointed with how the kids played and how hard they worked. We come out of the weekend seeing two teams that are pretty even I think, [so] we’ll take it from there.”

Michigan State (18-11-5 overall, 13-8-5-2 CCHA) concludes the regular season with a home-and-home series against Bowling Green this weekend. Friday’s game is set for a 6:05 pm start in East Lansing, and can be seen on Fox Sports Detroit. The following night, Bowling Green plays host, with puck-drop scheduled at 7:05 pm.

The Bulldogs (19-11-4 overall, 13-9-4-3 CCHA) finish-up league play this weekend with a home-and-home against rival Western Michigan. The first game will be played at 7:05 pm on Friday in Big Rapids, with a special senior night ceremony beforehand. The Broncos return the favor on Saturday night, with a start time of 7:35 pm.

Bulldogs ready for "Faceoff"

Compiled by MiCHO Staff

The Ferris State University Blueline Club, in conjunction with Independent Bank of Big Rapids, will hold a preseason "Faceoff" event highlighting the upcoming 2008-09 season for both the Ferris State men's ice hockey and the Big Rapids High School teams on Friday, Oct. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Falcon Head Golf Course in Big Rapids.

Cost for the event is $15 for adults for $8 for children 12 and under. A pasta bar dinner and beverage will be served.

The preseason "Faceoff" will feature season previews from Bulldog hockey head coach Bob Daniels and Big Rapids High School hockey coach Tim Blashill. Selected student-athletes on the 2008-09 Ferris State hockey team will also speak. Nick Scheible, a Ferris State hockey and Big Rapids High hockey alumnus, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Tickets for the inaugural event must be purchased by Monday, Sept. 29, to ensure an accurate head count. Tickets can be purchased at the FSU Ice Arena Ticket Office Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EDT).

"This (event) provides a unique opportunity to meet and interact with the 2008-09 Ferris State hockey team," said Daniels. "Those who attend will also have a chance to meet our incoming freshmen and hear from a number of our returning players.

"We want to reach out to more hockey fans in the surrounding communities and believe this event is a good way to start off the new season," Daniels added.

The preseason "Faceoff" is being initiated to preview the upcoming 2008-09 season along with meeting the Bulldog hockey student-athletes and interacting with fellow Ferris State hockey fans.

Ferris State will open its 31st season of NCAA Division I intercollegiate play Sunday, Oct. 5, with an exhibition contest against Windsor (Ontario). Opening faceoff is set for 2:05 p.m. at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids. The 2008-09 campaign officially gets underway Oct. 10-11 when the Bulldogs host Canisius in a two-game non-league series at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Release and photo courtesy of FSU Athletics