Chad Billins Signs With Grand Rapids Griffins

Big Rapids, Mich. - Another Ferris State University men's ice hockey skater will embark on his professional career as the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) today announced the signing of Bulldog senior co-captain Chad Billins to an amateur tryout.

Billins becomes the second Bulldog player to sign with an AHL team this week following FSU's remarkable run to the national championship game as fellow senior forward Jordie Johnston inked with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers earlier this week.

A native of Marysville, Mich., Billins logged 29 points (7-22—29) and 24 penalty minutes in 43 games with the Bulldogs this season while claiming American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) All-America Second Team plaudits.

The 22-year-old defenseman served as a co-captain for the Bulldogs during the team's run to the NCAA Frozen Four, where they were defeated in the championship game by Boston College last Saturday night in Tampa, Fla. The 5-10, 175-pound defenseman skated in 149 games in four years with Ferris State, notching 67 points (17-50—67) and 108 penalty minutes.

Billins was recognized this season as both a All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) First Team recipient and the winner of the CCHA's prestigious Scholar-Athlete Award as the Bulldogs claimed the school's second-ever league regular-season crown.

Billins joins the Griffins for their final weekend of the regular season. The team will host the Chicago Wolves on Friday at 7 p.m. (ET) in Grand Rapids before traveling to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs on Saturday at 7 p.m. (ET) and Sunday at 3 p.m. (ET).

Tickets for the Griffins' regular season home finale on Friday are available at griffinshockey.com.