PREVIEW: Ferris State Sets For Home-And-Home With Long Time Rival Western Michigan

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team is set for a home-and-home series with long-time rival Western Michigan University, Friday at Western Michigan's Lawson Ice Arena, and Saturday at Ferris State's Ewigleben Ice Arena.

TICKETS GOING FAST FOR FERRIS STATE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN SATURDAY

Saturday's premium game vs. Western Michigan, set for 8:07 pm ET, has tickets going fast. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets in advance as Ferris State sold out its last game vs. Northern Michigan and has entertained back-to-back huge crowds at Ewigleben Ice Arena. Tickets can be purchased by visiting Star Tickets (Link Above) or visiting the ice arena box office. Call 231-591-2888 for information.

CARDIAC CANINES CHARGE FOR COME BACK ATTEMPTS, FALL AT LSSU

The Bulldogs engineered a pair of wild late comeback attempts at Lake Superior State last weekend. Ferris State has erased multiple goal deficits five times in seven games this season, but has yet managed to get over the top in those games. The Bulldogs were down 4-2 in the third period on Friday, Nov. 1 at LSSU before Brenden MacLaren and Jason Tackett tallied late to force overtime before falling 5-4 in overtime. On Saturday, the Bulldogs fell behind 4-1 before Dallas Tulik scored his second of the game and Blake Evennou picked up his first collegiate goal to pull back within a goal with 72 seconds to play, but the Bulldogs could not convert with a late chance by Jake Transit.

THREE FRESHMEN SCORE FIRST COLLEGIATE GOALS AT LAKE SUPERIOR STATE

Ferris State freshman forward Brenden MacLaren banged in his first collegiate goal at 16:03 of the third period on Friday, November 1st at Taffy Abel Ice Arena in his home town. Senior defensemen Joe Rutkowski and Nate Kallen picked up assists on MacLaren's first collegiate goal. On Saturday, November 2nd at 14:00 of the second period, freshman defenseman Jake Willets and sophomore forward Hunter Wendt sprang freshman forward Dallas Tulik out of the penalty box and on a breakaway. Tulik's first shot was stopped by LSSU goaltender Mareks Mitens. Tulik tapped in the rebound with his stick on the ice for his first collegiate goal. At 18:48 of the third period on a power play, freshman defenseman Blake Evennou labeled a shot for the top right corner coming down the left lane to pull the Bulldogs within a goal. Willets and Kallen assisted on Evennou's first collegiate goal.

FERRIS STATE VS. WESTERN MICHIGAN: ALL-TIME HISTORY

Ferris State and Western Michigan are set to meet for the 146th and 147th times in program history when they go toe-to-toe at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday, Nov. 8 and Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 9. The Bulldogs are looking for their first win against the Broncos since an October 7th, 2017 victory at Ewigleben Ice Arena. The Bulldogs won it 3-2 when then freshman forward Coale Norris scored his first collegiate goal after being tripped up. Norris was tripped and while parallel to the ice, batted the puck, hitting it twice, causing it to knuckle its' way inside the right goal post for the eventual game-winning goal at 7:37 of the third period. Ferris State has lost four straight to the Broncos. Former conference rival Western Michigan has had the edge over the Bulldogs since NCAA's realignment. Ferris State is looking to break through for the first time since December 2009 at Lawson Ice arena.

MATCH UPS SET FOR 55TH ANNUAL GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL

Ferris State will take on the Michigan Wolverines to open the 55th Annual Great Lakes Invitational at Little Caesars 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 now has a Great Lakes Invitational Tournament Central page including information for Fan Hotel Booking, Active Ticket Links, Alumni Reception Registration Links and more. The link below is active for Ferris State GLI Tournament Central information. Ferris State is making their second visit to play in the Great Lakes Invitational, and will join a small pool of invitees to have played the tournament in both Joe Louis Arena and the new Little Caesars Arena. 

https://ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2019-20/releases/20191023ijmvbx

BULLDOG HOCKEY ALUM SIMON DENIS MAKES JAPANESE NATIONAL HOCKEY TEAM

Ferris State University men's ice hockey alum Simon Denis has been named to the Japanese National Hockey team, becoming the seventh Bulldog alum to make a national team. Denis joins a small group of former Ferris State players to play for a national team, including Chris Kunitz who was an Olympic Gold Medalist for Hockey Canada in 2014 and also represented Canada at IIHF World Championships in 2008, Norm Krumpschmid (Austria, 1998-99), Bob Nardella (Italy, 1995-98, 2006), John Gruden (USA, 2002), Andy Roach (USA, 2004-05), Zach Redmond (USA, 2015), and Chad Billins, who represented the United States of America at the 2018 Olympics.

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

MEET THE BRONCOS

The Western Michigan Broncos, under the direction of Andy Murray, are off to a 3-3-2 start this season. The Broncos have been beleagured by injuries to their top players. Star defenseman Cam Lee has yet to play a game. St. Louis Blues draft pick and star forward Hugh McGing missed his last game at Colorado College, while Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Wade Allison has a goal in four games and has missed half of Western's games. Still, they've found their offensive production from across the board. Paul Washe leads the Broncos in scoring with four goals and five assists for nine points in eight games. Washe had just 19 points in 62 games coming into this season before an early season breakout. Drew Worrad has seven points (five goals) in eight games after having just ten points as a freshman. Defenseman Michael Joyaux leads the back-end with five points (all assists) and highly touted freshman defenseman Ronnie Attard (Philadelphia Flyers draft choice) has three goals for four points. For Andy Murray's squad, the top ten scorers include just three seniors for Western Michigan, showing a bright future. The Broncos have been uneven on special teams with a power play clicking at 14.7 percent, but a penalty kill at a respectable 83.3 percent kill rate. The Broncos strive in the third periods of games outscoring opponents 8-3. The Broncos have been strong in goal. Brandon Bussi has a .916 save percentage and a 2.56 goals against average in 468 minutes over eight games. Bussi has played 95.6 percent of Western's time on ice this season. Bussi, the 6'4" freshman, has clearly locked in the starting spot early. Ben Blacker has stopped all 10 shots he's seen in 19:43 of play between the pipes. When healthy, the Broncos are an NCAA Championship type contender in what appears to be a wide open 2019-20 NCAA Field. The NCHC's traditional powers are in reloading mode and the Broncos are built for a run now after narrow misses due to injuries to star players over the last few seasons.