PUCK PREVIEW | Ferris State Hits Road For League Battle at #20 Bemidji State

Bemidji, MN. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team is headed West for their longest road trip of the season to face off with nationally #20 ranked Bemidji State in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) action on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 4-5) at the Sanford Center.

BULLDOGS HEAD WEST

Ferris State's last trip to Bemidji was a fruitful one, resulting in their first road sweep of the Beavers since the 2015 Conference Quarterfinals, albeit a series that required a triple overtime victory. Ferris State earned two player of the week honors for the performance (Kaleb Ergang, Noah Giesbrecht). The Bulldogs took game one when Ergang scored his first collegiate goal with 68 ticks left on the clock, as the Bulldogs hung on for a 2-1 victory. In game two, Ferris State jumped out to a 5-0 lead, including a 3-0 first period edge before bussing the long trip through the night home with six CCHA points and a 5-2 win in their pockets. Now the Bulldogs will look to tame a Beaver squad that handed previously unbeaten St. Cloud State their first loss last weekend.

ON THE AIR

As a programming note, Ferris State Hockey's Friday broadcast will begin online only on Friday (Nov. 4) at 7:45 pm ET from the Sanford Center, and will be joined in progress on the Ferris State Flagship station following the conclusion of Bulldog men's basketball playing at the University of Michigan. Former Federal Hockey League Goaltender (FHL) Tyler Kuehl will have the Bulldog action this weekend on the Bulldog Sports Network, standing in for Harrison Watt. Kuehl previously broadcasted for Davenport's ACHA Hockey program, and has worked with Western Michigan Hockey as their secondary play-by-play broadcaster to Robin Hook.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS

The roster losses may have looked grim, but don't tell that to the Beavers! Gone are 47 point scorer Owen Sillinger (17-30-47), 42 point scorer Alex Ierullo (16-26-42), 38 point scorer Lukas Sillinger (17-21-38), 22 point scorer Ethan Somoza (10-12-22), but the Beavers just have not missed a beat. They're getting it from sensational Canisius transfer Mitchell Martan (5-3-8) in six games, as well as Eric Martin and Jere Vaisanen (2-4-6 lines for each). Exciting freshman Lleyton Roed has played well with three goals in six games as well. Back for the Beavers is dangerous defenseman Elias Rosen, and strong forward Ross Armour, but really, it's a very new group. The acrobatic Mattias Sholl has held down the goal for the most part with a .914 save percentage and 1.74 goals against average in 240 minutes. The Beavers early special teams numbers are below their usually near-top-of the country marks now, but their early schedule was no joke. A season opening split with the explosive Arizona State Sun Devils, a win and shootout win at stingy Michigan Tech, and a split with previously unbeaten and then nationally second ranked St. Cloud State have the Beavers feeling pretty good about their early season look. A big difference maker? Head Coach Tom Serratore, an in-game adjustment making mastermind.

MCGRATH'S FIRST MONTH

Ferris State freshman forward Connor McGrath's first month of Division I Hockey has been an entertaining one. The barely-19-year-old McGrath has four goals (most amongst CCHA Rookies), six points (3rd CCHA Rookies), two power play goals (T-1 CCHA Rookies), 0.75 points per game (2nd CCHA Rookies), is on a three-game point streak and has a six points in his last six games. McGrath is the second best face off man amongst CCHA rookies as well, following in the path of 2022 Rookie of the Year, Brad Marek.

STEIN STELLAR IN OCTOBER

Ferris State Sophomore goaltender Logan Stein is off to a career best start in the Bulldog net as well, with the CCHA's third best save percentage (9.20). In a league with strong goaltending at the top, his 2.48 save percentage ranks third amongst CCHA tenders who have played at least five games. 

BULLDOG POWER PLAY HEATING UP

The Bulldogs eight power play goals are tied for second most amongst CCHA teams, behind only Northern Michigan's 14. Six different Bulldogs have power play tallies with McGrath (2) and junior forward Jason Brancheau (2) leading thing way for the Bulldog man advantage. Senior defenseman Brenden MacLaren,  junior forward Stepan Pokorny, senior forward Dallas Tulik, and sophomore forward Brad Marek each have one power play tally for the Bulldogs.