Nation's First Regular-Season Puck Drop In Big Rapids As 'Dawgs Open Season This Weekend
Ticket Information
Big Rapids, Mich. - The first regular-season puck drop in college hockey this year takes place in Big Rapids, the nation's #5 college hockey city, as the Ferris State Bulldogs host the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers in the opening weekend of action on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 1-2) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.
The Bulldogs and the Chargers will meet in a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) series to open the year with the nation's first puck drop of the regular-season on Saturday at 5:07 p.m. (ET). The series finale will take place Sunday beginning at 3:07 p.m.
As part of this weekend's opening series, Saturday's game will include a free schedule magnet giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Sunday will be "Family Funday" with $1 parking, $1 concession items, free thunderstix and a free skate with the Dawgs event after the contest.
Ferris State, which is the defending WCHA Final Five Champion and reached the NCAA Final Eight for the third time in five years last season, will open the 2016-17 season in the national rankings as the Bulldogs are listed 20th in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) Division I National Poll.
Seating is expected to be at a premium again this season based on results of strong season ticket sales this summer. The Bulldogs have officially posted 20-plus sellouts overall in the last four years and the "Dawg Pound" student section has recorded 81-straight sellouts to date as Bulldog Hockey continues to be one of the hottest tickets around.
Fans can purchase advance tickets for this weekend's first home action to guarantee a seat and save over the normal gameday rates by visiting the FSU Athletics Ticket Office located inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex. Bulldog fans can also purchase all regular-priced tickets in advance 24 hours a day, seven days a week online at StarTickets.com or by calling 1-800-585-3737.
Normal business hours are Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) with extended hours on Wednesday until 7 p.m. (ET).
A complete pricing structure, ticket office hours and additional information is available online at FerrisStateBulldogs.com and can be found by visiting the "tickets" tab. For additional ticket information, please call (231) 591-2888.
The Bulldogs will embark on their 42nd campaign this fall and again face perhaps one of the country's toughest schedules as they seek their fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the last six years.
The 2016-17 schedule is highlighted by matchups against every other in-state Division I opponent from Michigan, including non-conference home showdowns against Michigan, Michigan State and Western Michigan inside FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena. Overall, the Bulldogs will play host to five of the other six D1 programs from Michigan this coming year. This coming season will represent the first time in which the Bulldogs have faced every Michigan opponent in the same campaign since the 1995-96 season.
Along with the premier matchups against the in-state foes, the Bulldogs will also entertain conference rivals such as Minnesota State and Bowling Green as part of a 17-game home schedule.
The Bulldogs closed the 2015-16 campaign by making the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, including the third in the past five years to date. Along with this past year's run to the NCAA West Regional Championship game, the Bulldogs also won the WCHA's Broadmoor Trophy as the league's Final Five Champion. It marked the first conference tournament championship in school history and came on the heels of conference regular-season titles in both 2012 and 2014.
Along with a Frozen Four berth and national title game showing in 2012, FSU also has reached the regional final and the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016.