PREVIEW: Ferris State Hockey Hosts Alabama Huntsville To Open Season Saturday

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team opens the 2016-17 season at home this weekend with a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) series against the University of Alabama Huntsville this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1-2.

Fans can purchase advance tickets for this week's 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.

2016-17 Season Preview
This season marks the 42nd installment of Ferris State University men's ice hockey, and the 25th season under the direction of the winningest coach in team history, Bob Daniels. The Bulldogs return 17 members from their 2015-16 NCAA Regional Finalist team that won 20 games and a WCHA Final Five title. Seniors Chad McDonald, Jared VanWormer, Ryan Lowney and defending WCHA points leader Gerald Mayhew lead a team that lost only two forwards to graduation last season, as well as Kyle Schempp who signed a professional contract with the NHL's New York Islanders. The Bulldogs return four of their top five scorers, including WCHA Freshman of the Year Corey Mackin and sophomore forward Andrew Dorantes. Ferris State will welcome 10 new faces, including Boston Bruins draft pick Cameron Clarke on defense, and high-scoring forward Jason Tackett. Sophomore goaltender Darren Smith is looking to continue playing at a high level after a postseason hot streak that earned him MVP honors at the WCHA Final Five last March.

2015-16 Season In-Review
Ferris State made history during the 2015-16 season, winning the first conference tournament title in prorgram history. The Bulldogs downed both WCHA regular season co-champions Michigan Tech and Minnesota State en route to its third NCAA Tournament berth in five seasons, and the fourth in school history. Forward Corey Mackin claimed the WCHA Freshman of the Year, while Gerald Mayhew led the WCHA with 41 points. Goalie Darren Smith started FSU's final 20 games and tied a team record with three shutouts as a freshman. Smith won six Player of the Week awards and two Player of the Month honors in his first college campaign.

Scouting The Chargers
Alabama Huntsville is coming off a 2015-16 season that saw improvement in winning percentage despite an overall record of 7-21-6. The Chargers did not qualify for WCHA postseason play a season ago, and was picked to finish in 9th this year in both the WCHA Coaches' Poll and the Preseason Media Poll. UAH returns two of its top three scoring forwards last season in Max McHugh (22 points) and Brennan Saulnier (17 points), as well as its leading defensive scorer Brandon Parker (14 points). Other returners expected to make an impact include forwards Matt Salhany, Jetlan Houcher and Adam Wilcox, as well as defensemen Kurt Gosselin and Brandon Carlson. In net, senior goaltenders Matt Larose and Carmine Guerriero both expect to garner playing time after splitting starts a season ago. Guerriero played in 18 contests in 2015-16, while Larose saw action in 17 games.

All-Time History vs. Alabama-Huntsville
Ferris State sports an all-time record of 13-3-1 in 17 meetings with the Chargers. The Bulldogs took three out of four points in two home January meetings with UAH during the 2015-16 season. Ferris State holds a 6-1-1 in advantage in eight contests over Alabama-Huntsville since the two joined the WCHA for the 2013-14 season. The two teams first met on Oct. 25, 1985 when the Bulldogs earned a 7-2 victory over the Chargers. FSU's Coach Daniels is 11-3-1 against Alabama-Huntsville in his career.

Bulldogs Ranked #20 In USCHO.com Poll To Begin Season
Ferris State begins the 2016-17 season this weekend with a national ranking next to its name, garnering 126 points for the No. 20 team in the Preseason USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll. After a postseason run that carried the squad to the NCAA West Regional final, the Bulldogs finished No. 15 in the final USCHO rankings last April. FSU's first meeting with a ranked opponent will be Oct. 15 when the Bulldogs host Michigan in Big Rapids.

Mayhew Tabbed As WCHA Preseason Player Of The Year
Senior forward Gerald Mayhew was chosen by both the WCHA coaches and media as the league's Preseason Player of the Year on Sept. 20. The Wyandotte, Mich. native ranked third in the league scoring race a season ago with 25 points on nine goals and 16 assists in WCHA play last year, while his 41 overall points were tops in the conference. Mayhew ended his campaign by recording a point in five of the team's six postseason contests (10 total) and helping the Bulldogs to the NCAA West Regional final with five goals (including two game-winners) and five assists.

Mackin Named To Preseason All-WCHA Team
Sophomore forward Corey Mackin was part of the Preseason All-WCHA team selected by the WCHA coaches' on Sept. 20. The Philadelphia native won the league's Rookie of the Year award last season, finishing with 25 overall points on 10 goals and 15 assists. While playing in all of the team's 41 games during his freshman campaign, Mackin ended the year with a +4 rating, three power play goals, one game-winning tally, 86 shots on net and just two penalty minutes.

Fresh Blood
The Bulldogs welcome eight new freshman to the program for the 2016-17 season, including four defensemen, three forwards and one goaltender. Up front, Taylor Fernandez, Dominic Lutz and Jason Tackett are all expected to come in and contribute right away after successful careers at the junior hockey level. On defense, Chris Allemon, Cameron Clarke, Nate Kallen and Joe Rutkowski make up the newest blueliners that will replace last year's four departing senior members of the defensive corps. FSU also has high expectations for its lone freshman goaltender Justin Kapelmaster, a native of Coral Springs, Fla. who impressed last season with the NAHL's Wichita Falls Wildcats. 

Clarke Selected As Preseason Rookie Of The Year
Freshman defenseman Cameron Clarke, a fifth round NHL Draft selection of the Boston Bruins, was selected by WCHA media as the league's Preseson Rookie of the Year. The 136th overall pick played for the Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL during the 2015-16 season and had 50 points on nine goals and 41 assists in 59 regular season games. Clarke was also named NAHL Defenseman of the Year at the conclusion of the season. The Tecumseh native will wear No. 3 for the Bulldogs.

Picking Up Where He Left Off
Sophomore goaltender Darren Smith is looking to continue his stellar play in net as he enters his second campaign with the Bulldogs. During his rookie season, Smith played in 33 games and posted a record of 17-10-5 with a goals against average of 2.33, a save percentage at .919 and three shutouts. By the time his first collegiate season came to a close, Smith had been named College Hockey News' best rookie goaltender, was awarded the WCHA Final Five All-Tournament MVP, twice was a WCHA Player of the Month and was named a Player of the Week six times. 

Made in Michigan
For the first time since the 1995-96 campaign, Ferris State will play all six Division I college hockey opponents in the state of Michigan in a single season. The Bulldogs will face all but Michigan Tech at least once at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids. FSU will play in 12 contests against the six schools, with seven of the 12 coming at home. The Michigan-school schedule is front-loaded, with all seven of those home games taking place before November 20. The Bulldogs regularly played with all of Michigan's college hockey teams while they were a member of the CCHA with the exception of Michigan Tech, who have competed in the WCHA since 1984. 

VanWormer, Mayhew Selected As Team Captains
Senior forwards Jared VanWormer and Gerald Mayhew will make up Ferris State's leadership group as the team heads into the new year. VanWormer will wear the "C" after serving as an assistant captain during the 2015-16 season, while Mayhew will have a letter on his sweater for the first time as a Bulldog. VanWormer has played in 101 games with FSU through his first three seasons, posting 16 goals and 21 assists. Mayhew was a leader on the ice last season, and finished first on the team with 41 points. Through 117 games with Ferris State, the Wyandotte native has 35 goals and 49 assists.

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