Old Rivals And Big Names Highlight Ferris State's 2021-22 Return To The CCHA

Click Here For Full 2021-22 Schedule (PDF)

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey squad will bring several familiar foes back to town in their return to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) this coming season as the Bulldogs unveiled their complete 2021-22 schedule, including non-conference dates, on Monday (June 21).

This coming year's slate is filled with marquee matchups and old rivals, including visits from the Michigan State Spartans, Western Michigan Broncos and Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in non-conference action.

The Bulldogs will play host to 17 home games this coming season with five of the six NCAA Division I opponents from the state of Michigan all coming to the Ewigleben Ice Arena as FSU embarks upon its 47th season of varsity competition, looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time since 2012.

Ferris State will open the year by facing the National Collegiate Hockey Conference's (NCHC) Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in Big Rapids on Oct. 2-3 for a two-game home series. The Redhawks will make their first visit to Big Rapids since the Bulldogs earned a sweep back in 2012 at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Next, the Bulldogs draw the Western Michigan Broncos for a home-and-home series, traveling to Lawson Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 8, before returning to Big Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Ferris State opens its CCHA schedule on Oct. 22-23 with its first-ever matchups at St. Thomas University, the newest team in NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey.

In late October, on the road, the Bulldogs will battle a program featuring two Bulldog alums as they square off agianst the Canisius Golden Griffins in Buffalo, N.Y. The Griffins are led by an FSU alum in head coach Trevor Large ('04) and also feature another Bulldog product on the bench in assistant coach Taylor Nelson ('12). Nelson helped lead the Bulldogs to the national championship game at the NCAA Frozen Four as an All-America Goaltender in 2012.

Sandwiched between a pair of non-conference series, the Bulldogs host one of the four NCAA Regional Champions from this past year in the Minnesota State Mavericks on Nov. 5-6. The Mavericks made their first ever Frozen Four last season.

The Bulldogs also have a home-and-home series against the Michigan State Spartans on the docket as they visit Munn Arena on Friday, Nov. 12, before MSU pays a visit to the Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 13.

Ferris State wraps up a three-game homestand and a stretch of five out of six at home when the Northern Michigan Wildcats visit on Nov. 19-20 before the Bulldogs head to the Upper Peninsula to take on the Michigan Tech Huskies on Nov. 26-27.

Headed into the holiday break, Ferris State hosts in-state rival Lake Superior State on Dec. 3-4 and visits Bowling Green on Dec. 10-11 to close out the 2021 portion of the slate.

After the holidays, Ferris State heads off to face Minnesota State for a pair of games on Jan. 7-8 before welcoming St. Thomas to Big Rapids for the first time ever on Jan. 14-15.

Next, the Bulldogs make the long trek to Bemidji, Minn., to take on the Bemidji State Beavers on Jan. 21-22 before coming home to play host to long-time CCHA rival Bowling Green on Jan. 28-29.

After a bye week, Ferris State travels back to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to battle Lake Superior State on Feb. 11-12 before wrapping up the home slate against the Michigan Tech Huskies on Feb. 18-19.

The Bulldogs close the regular season against the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Feb. 25-26 in Marquette.

The top four teams in the CCHA will host first round playoff games on campus sites in a best-of-three series. The winners advance to the one-game CCHA semifinals on the campus site of the higher seed the weekend of March 11-13. The semifinal winners then battle for the famed Mason Cup on Saturday, March 19, on the campus site of the higher seeded team.

Should the Bulldogs make the NCAA Tournament, this year's NCAA Regionals are in Albany (New York), Allentown (Pennsylvania), Loveland (Colorado) and Worcester (Massachusetts) from March 25-27. The 2022 Frozen Four is set to take place at TD Garden in Boston, Mass., on April 7-9.

Official starting times for all contests will be announced in the near future and the schedule is subject to change. Fans are encouraged to frequently visit Ferris State Athletics' official website at FerrisStateBulldogs.com for the latest Bulldog Hockey schedule updates and changes. Additional information on season ticket packages and single-game sales will also be announced in the near future. 

Since 2012, the Bulldogs have made three NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the NCAA Final Eight all three times. FSU has also won two conference regular-season championships along with capturing the WCHA's Broadmoor Trophy once as the league's Final Five Champion. Along with a Frozen Four berth and national title game showing in 2012, FSU also has reached the regional final and the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016.