PREVIEW: Ferris State Hockey Hosts Northern Michigan As WCHA Play Resumes This Weekend

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team hosts the Northern Michigan Wildcats this weekend (Oct. 21-22) inside FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Fans can purchase advance tickets 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.

All-Time History vs. Northern Michigan

Ferris State sports a record of 30-53-5 in 88 all-time meetings with the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Ferris State has owned the last ten games, posting a 7-3-0 mark, as well as a 4-2-0 record last season. The Bulldogs and Wildcats met last March in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, where Ferris State swept Northern Michigan on March 11 and 12 to advance to the final WCHA Final Five in Grand Rapids. In their most recent meeting, game two of the WCHA first round, Gerald Mayhew scored two goals in 37 seconds to tie the game and subsequently take the lead in the last five minutes of regulation. Mayhew's second goal stood as the game-winning goal, which ended NMU's 2015-16 campaign. The Wildcats have struggled to keep up in Ewigleben Ice Arena, as Ferris State has outscored Northern Michigan 24-10 over their last six tilts in Big Rapids. 

Senior Success Against Northern Michigan

Ferris State's current seniors had major success against the Wildcats during the 2015-16 campaign. The class of 2017 combined for 21 points in six games against NMU, with Gerald Mayhew leading the way with nine points in six games. Mayhew had two two-goal games against the Wildcats and three multi-point games. Senior forward Chad McDonald only played in four contests vs. NMU last year, but packed a punch against the Wildcats finishing the season series with six points on three goals and three assists. Jared VanWormer notched two goals and an assist. All of VanWormer's points vs. NMU came in the two-game playoff series. Ryan Lowney finished with a goal and two assists vs. NMU, with his lone goal being Ferris State's first goal of the 2015-16 playoffs. Lowney had assists in back-to-back games on Dec. 11-12 in Marquette, as the Bulldogs split that weekend series going into the holiday break.

Mayer Has The "Upper Hand"
While known more for his physicality than his scoring touch, junior forward Andrew Mayer has had his way against Upper Peninsula teams in his collegiate career. Mayer had a two-point game against the Wildcats on Dec. 11, 2015 at the Berry Events Center in Marquette, just a few weeks after a two-point game against the Lake Superior State Lakers in Sault Ste. Marie. Mayer's first collegiate point, an assist, came in a 1-0 victory over Northern Michigan in Marquette on Nov. 7, 2014. Mayer also had goals in back-to-back home contests in the midst of a three point weekend.

Bulldogs Gear Up for Five-Game Road Swing
After this weekend series vs. Northern Michigan, the Bulldogs will not see home ice again until Nov. 12. The Bulldogs have five straight road contests, with two each at Minnesota State and Bowling Green State State, and a lone Nov. 10 match up at Michigan State. Including this weekend's games, Ferris State will have played six games at Ewigleben Ice Arena in the month of October, which represents the most they will have at home in any one month of the 2016-17 regular season.

Ferris State Peppers Michigan In 2-1 Setback Before Sellout Crowd

The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to the nationally 13th-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines on Saturday (Oct. 15) night before a sellout crowd of 2,516 fans inside FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena despite nearly doubling UM in shots for the evening. Sophomore forward Andrew Mayer had the lone Ferris State goal on a power play in the third period to even the contest at a goal apiece while sophomore forward Corey Mackin tallied his first assist of the season. The Bulldog defensive unit was stingy, allowing just 16 shots to a Wolverine team that average 4.76 goals per game in the 2015-16 season.

Bulldogs Return to WCHA Play

Following three consecutive non-conference contests, Ferris State returns to WCHA play for their next six contests between Oct. 21 and Nov. 5. The Bulldogs started the year 0-2-0 in conference, but have had recent success against their next conference opponent, the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Ferris State will next hit the road for back-to-back road trips to Minnesota State and Bowling Green, before a short trip to East Lansing to interrupt their conference schedule on Thursday, Nov. 10. The Bulldogs have four non-conference contests remaining on the 2016-17 schedule, as they'll take on the Michigan State Spartans for a home and home series on Nov. 10 and Nov. 12, followed by Robert Morris on Dec. 29 at the Three Rivers Classic in Pittsburgh, Pa. at the home of Ferris State alum Chris Kunitz and the National Hockey League's Pittsburgh Penguins. Ferris State's final non-conference game on the 2016-17 schedule is set for Dec. 30 against either Boston College or Quinnipiac.