Ferris State Hockey Finalizes Schedule With Addition Of Two-Game Series At Minnesota

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team has officially finalized an addition to the 2018-19 schedule to play a two-game non-conference road series versus the University of Minnesota on Dec. 28-29 inside 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis.

The Bulldogs will meet the Gophers for the first time in 12 years and for the fifth and sixth times in series' history. It will represent the first ever two-game weekend series between the two teams.

In the Golden Gophers, the Bulldogs will see one of the premier programs in college hockey history. The Gophers are owners of five National Championships in men's ice hockey, and enter under the direction of first-year head coach Bob Motzko.

"We are delighted to add a series for the 2018-19 season against a quality opponent such as the University of Minnesota," said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. "Over the years, we have played the Gophers numerous times and we are excited about continuing the rivalry."

This season will mark the first time since 2015-16 in which the Bulldogs will finish the season having played at least three of the five Minnesota based NCAA Division I Men's College Hockey teams with a tough conference slate featuring defending MacNaughton Cup Champion Minnesota State and 2016-17 MacNaughton Cup Champion Bemidji State as well as the Gophers.

As for non-conference schedule, the Bulldogs have solidified a strong eight-game non-conference slate, with four games against Big Ten opponents (Minnesota, Michigan State), two against National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) opponents (Western Michigan) and two against Atlantic Hockey (AHC) opponents (Mercyhurst).

Notably, Ferris State and Minnesota previously met in the 2003 NCAA West Regional Championship. The game was the final collegiate contest of Bulldog legend and four-time Stanley Cup Champion Chris Kunitz's storied FSU career and he scored a pair of goals in the showdown despite battling injury.

This year's weekend series brings the Bulldogs' season total to 36 games with 18 regular season games at home and 16 on the road. Overall, the Bulldogs will play 20 contests at Ewigleben Ice Arena, with their two exhibition games slated for Oct. 6-7. The 20 home dates are the most in a decade for the Bulldogs.