PREVIEW: Hockey Sets for WCHA Opener Against Northern Michigan At Home

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team, 2-1-0, is set for their Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opener against the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26 at Ewigleben Ice Arena.

LARGE CROWDS EXPECTED - BUY TICKETS SOON

Several promotions are in play on Oct. 25-26 vs. Northern Michigan, and large crowds with Friends and Family Weekend will likely create sell-out conditions on gameday. Fans in town that are registered for Friends and Family Weekend are strongly encouraged to buy early in the day when they arrive, and other fans should plan to buy in advance. Information on all promotions is listed below.

REMINDER - SATURDAY NIGHT 6:07 PM START

Ferris State Hockey has moved all Saturday night contests back to a 6:07 pm ET puck drop for home games (except for Western Michigan on Nov. 9, which is set for 8:07 pm ET).

FRIENDS AND FAMILY WEEKEND

This weekend will also mark Ferris State's Friends & Family Weekend on the FSU campus. Additional information on Friends & Family Weekend for FSU students can be found at this link: https://www.ferris.edu/parents/friendsandfamilyweekend.htm

ZTA PRESENTS THINK PINK NIGHT ON FRIDAY

On Friday night, fans are encouraged to Wear Pink for the league opener in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority on campus will be on hand to help suppport this important cause. FSU students can receive 25% off student tickets by visiting their table in the University Center across from Starbucks from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday. Members of ZTA will be in the concourse throughout the evening helping to educate and fundraise for this important cause.

FERRIS STATE HOCKEY FAMILY NIGHT PRESENTED BY MEIJER

In addition, Saturday is Ferris State Hockey Family Night presented by Meijer. Fans can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four fountain drinks for only $48 while supplies last for this limited offer. This offer is available thru the box office and fans are encouraged to call (231) 591-2888 for additional information.

BULLDOGS REBOUND FROM FRIDAY LOSS AT MIAMI TO TOP REDHAWKS ON THE ROAD

A masterful 33-save effort by sophomore goaltender Roni Salmenkangas was punctuated by three goals by junior class forwards Coale Norris, Lucas Finner and Marshall Moise as the Bulldogs powered past the NCHC's Miami Redhawks 3-1 at the Goggin Ice Center on Saturday, Oct. 26. The win came in Ferris State's first visit to Goggin Ice Center in a decade as the Bulldogs moved to 2-1-0 on the season. Finner picked up his team leading third goal of the season, two of which have come on the power play (good for second most in the country), while Salmenkangas rode his season save percentage to .968 to lead the nation.

STONE COLD SAL IS RED HOT

Finnish sophomore netminder Roni Salmenkangas finished last season on a tear with a .933 save percentage from February 8 on over six games. Early returns from the 2019-20 season have the aptly nicknamed "Stone Cold Sal," stone cold stunning competition to the tune of a .941 save percentage in his last eight outings dating back to February 8. Salmenkangas, albeit through two starts, is also boasting a nation leading .968 save percentage and 1.00 goals against average numbers. The Finnish sophomore has all but one of Ferris State's victories to his name since the start of the 2018-19 season when he set the program record for fastest to record first collegiate shutout (First Start).

FERRIS STATE VS. NORTHERN MICHIGAN - ALL-TIME HISTORY

Ferris State and Northern Michigan are set to meet for the 97th and 98th times in program history this weekend at Ewigleben Ice Arena with the Wildcats holding a 60-30-6 all-time lead in the series. Head Coach Bob Daniels has 26 of Ferris State's 30 wins against NMU, and 25 less losses than the all-time record between the two teams. The Wildcats have had the edge of late, winning the last six contests (four on the road). Ferris State's last win against Northern Michigan came back on March 12, 2016, in the WCHA Quarterfinals when Gerald Mayhew scored twice in 37 seconds to best the Wildcats and eliminate them to end their season on the way to Ferris State winning the Broadmoor Trophy Championship. Ferris State swept NMU in that series, Kyle Schempp scored the game-winning goal for Ferris State in game one. The Bulldogs finished 4-2-0 in six meetings with the Wildcats in the 2015-16 season, splitting both home and road regular season series.

TICKETS ON SALE AND MATCH-UPS SET FOR 55TH ANNUAL GLI - TOURNAMENT CENTRAL PAGE LIVE NOW

Ferris State will take on the Michigan Wolverines to open the 55th Annual Great Lakes Invitational at Little Caesar's Arena in Detroit, Michigan - the Home of the Detroit Red Wings - on Monday, Dec. 30. Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm ET and Ferris State will serve as the road team and wear red uniforms against Michigan. Michigan Tech and Michigan State faceoff at 1:00 pm ET. The consolation final is set for 11:30 am on Tuesday, Dec. 31, and the championship at 2:30 pm. FerrisStateBulldogs.com has information and links for tickets, fan hotel, and more.

Visit Ferris State's GLI Tournament Central Page Here: https://ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2019-20/releases/20191023ijmvbx

BULLDOG ALUM GERALD MAYHEW SCORES IN NHL DEBUT FOR MINNESOTA WILD

#Gerrytime is back in Minnesota. In his first National Hockey League Game, Mayhew scored on Tuesday, October 15, at 18:58 of the third period on Frederik Andersen of the Toronto Maple Leafs to become just the eighth player in franchise history to score a goal for the Wild in their NHL debut. Mayhew also made headlines when legendary Maple Leafs Head Coach and former Detroit Red Wings bench boss Mike Babcock (who formerly employed Ferris State alum Jeff Blashill as a Red Wing assistant coach) sought him out for a post game selfie that saw huge social media traffic. His new home, the Xcel Energy Center, saw him score five points in three games in a Bulldog uniform including three goals, all in the NCAA tournament. After tearing through the American Hockey League with the Iowa Wild last season (27-33-60 in 71 games last season, 9-2-11 in 11 playoff games with Iowa), Mayhew erupted for six points in the Iowa Wild's first four games after narrowly missing out on making the Minnesota Wild out of camp. Mayhew, who is Ferris State's all-time leading playoff point scorer, joined the Minnesota Wild for their Canada swing starting on Monday, Oct. 14, in Ottawa.

Watch Gerald Mayhew's First NHL Goal Here: https://ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2019-20/videos/20191016-jmxrxzul