PLAYOFF CENTRAL: Ferris State Locks Horns With First Place Minnesota State To Open WCHA Tournament

Big Rapids, Mich. - Game Day Central serves as the virtual press box for media, National Hockey League scouts, and fans. Live in-game updates will be provided by Ferris State Hockey's twitter account (@FerrisHockey). Additional coverage questions can be answered via email by Ferris State Hockey Play-by-Play Broadcaster and Athletics Communications Associate Harrison Watt (watth@ferris.edu). 

FERRIS STATE VS. MINNESOTA STATE: SERIES PREVIEW

Ferris State and Minnesota State will meet in the WCHA postseason for the fourth time, but the first in a best-of-three series this weekend in the WCHA Quarterfinals. The Mavericks are 2-1 all-time against the Bulldogs in the WCHA tournament. The Mavericks won the first two meetings: The 2014 WCHA Championship game on March 22 (4-1) at Van Andel Arena, followed by the WCHA Semi-Final in 2015 on March 20 (4-0) at the XCEL Energy Center. The Bulldogs won the third meeting in the WCHA Championship game to win the Broadmoor Trophy on March 19 (2-1) at Van Andel Arena on Gerald Mayhew's penalty shot in the second period that stood for the game-winning goal in Grand Rapids. The win punched Ferris State's fourth trip to the NCAA tournament by virtue of automatic bid.

Ferris State is led in scoring by Coale Norris (8-8-16) in 23 games. Junior forwards Jake Transit and Ethan Stewart each boast (6-8-14) credentials in a tie for second place. Amongst freshmen, Mitch Deelstra leads the Bulldogs (7-4-11) in both goal and point-scoring, followed by Antonio Venuto (3-6-9). From the blue-line, Blake Evennou (1-9-10) leads the Bulldogs in defenseman scoring. Seven Bulldogs have 10 or more points with two more in immediate reach.

The Mavericks have 12 double-digit point-scorers, led by German junior Julian Napravnik (9-15-24). Cade Borchardt, who had no points a season ago, has an (8-13-21) line in 22 games this season, good for second-best amongst all Mavericks. Sophomore forward Nthan Smith has a (5-15-20) line, tied for first in assists with Napravnik, and third amongst point scorers. Freshman defenseman Akito Hirose (1-12-13) leads all Maverick freshmena nd defensemen in point-scoring. Five of the top-ten scorers for the Mavericks are seniors. In goal, Dryden McKay has a .933 save percentage and a nation-leading eight shutouts to go with a 1.33 goals against average. McKay, the active national leader in career shutouts (22) is four away from tying Michigan State Spartan Ryan Miller's all-time Division I men's shutout record (26). The Maverick power play was humming above 34% when the Bulldogs saw them in late Febraury, but the Mavericks are 2-20 since that Friday game.

THE BULLDOGS IN THE WCHA POSTSEASON

Ferris State, in their final ever appearance in the WCHA postseason, appears for their sixth time. The Bulldogs have been to the semi-finals three times, the Championship twice, and have one Championship win (2016). The Bulldogs are 6-4 all-time in WCHA first round games, with three sweeps for (BSU, 2014 & 2015 - NMU, 2016). The Bulldogs were swept in their last appearance on the road at Bowling Green State University in the 2017-18 WCHA Quarterfinals.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

Ferris State and Minnesota State's first round series will air on FloHockey.tv with Minnesota State television crew, headed by Don Westphal and Dan McCargar. Ferris State's broadcast on the Bulldog Sports Network features play-by-play audio from Harrison Watt. The Ferris State audio broadcast can be found at FerrisStateBulldogs.com on the schedule page, or on terrestrial radio at 97.3 WDEE FM. Minnesota State Radio Coverage will be provided on KTOE (Mankato) by Mike Sullivan.

STEIN'S BEST START

Freshman goaltender Logan Stein had the top save-percentage start of his career Saturday (March 6) at Lake Superior State when he made 40 stops on 42 shots on goal faced against #20 Lake Superior State. The .952 mark boosted his save percentage 15 percent in his 11th collegiate outing for the Bulldogs. Stein missed the first several games of the season for Ferris State while helping team USA to a World Junior Championship gold medal in early January.

FARTHING'S FIRST

Ferris State freshman defenseman Luke Farthing picked up his first collegiate goal from the left hashmark in Friday's loss to the #18 ranked Lakers. At 1:59 of the first period, Farthing slipped by an LSSU forward into the low slot where he fired a shot past LSSU netminder Mareks Mitens for an early 1-0 Bulldog lead. Transit (8) and Stewart (8) earned assists on the play.