FSU Hockey Ends Year Ranked Second In Polls

USCHO Division I Poll (Final)
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll (Final)

Big Rapids, Mich. - After a national runner-up finish in the NCAA Tournament, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team has concluded a historic 2011-12 campaign ranked second nationally in the major college hockey polls.

This week, Ferris State rose back to the second spot from ninth a week ago with 939 points in the U.S. College Hockey Online Poll (USCHO). The USCHO Poll consists of 50 voters encompassing 28 coaches from the NCAA Division I conferences along with 22 beat writers and sports professionals from across the country. The poll is published weekly by the Associated Press. 

The Bulldogs also rose from the fourth spot a week ago to the second spot in the rankings with 476 points in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. The USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll is conducted on a weekly basis in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the AHCA and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

The most historic season in Bulldog Hockey history came to an end on Saturday (April 7) in the national championship game at the Frozen Four as the Bulldogs suffered a heart-breaking 4-1 loss to Boston College in the title contest at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.

The Bulldogs' most impressive season in school history came to a close with a 26-12-5 overall record and included a trip to the Frozen Four and a national runner-up finish.  FSU's 26 wins are the second-most in school history and the season highlights also included the school's second-ever Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Regular-Season Championship and a Midwest Regional crown.

Saturday's title game marked the first time in school history any Bulldog team had ever competed in a national championship game.  FSU won or tied 19 of its final 23 games of the season and had an impressive 15-game unbeaten streak earlier this season along with a number one national ranking in both polls for two weeks in February.