CCHA Quarterfinal Preview | Bulldogs Travel To Second Seeded Michigan Tech To Open Mason Cup Playoffs

Houghton, Mich. - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA)'s Mason Cup Playoffs open for the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena on March 4-6 in a best-of-three showdown between two teams who played to a pair of overtimes two weeks ago in Big Rapids.

Ferris State vs. Michigan Tech Huskies: Weekend Preview

Ferris State rebounded nicely for a 4-2 road win at long-time nemesis Northern Michigan to wrap the regular season and turns its attention back to their foe of two weeks ago, the second-place Michigan Tech Huskies for the first round of the Mason Cup Playoffs.

Two weeks ago, the Bulldogs gave the red-hot Huskies a jolt, taking them to overtime twice in front of a pair of raucous Ewigleben Ice Arena Crowds, including a sell-out on senior night. The Bulldogs pushed all of Michigan Tech's buttons - scoring 7 times in two games (3.50 per game) on a team that was allowing well under two goals per game, held the Huskies scoreless for their first nine tries on the power play (MTU was nearly at 30 percent entering the weekend), chased star goaltender Blake Pietila on Saturday for the first time all season, and battled the Huskies to the bitter end.

Michigan Tech was swept at home by national #1 Minnesota State last weekend, but played strong hockey and still boast one of the nation's most deadly lines. Brian Halonen ranks tied for second nationally in points with 44 (21-23-44) while fellow big-man Trenton Bliss has 36 points (T-16th nationally) and Tommy Parrottino has 26 points for the Huskies. On defense, Colin Swoyer leads all MTU defensemen with 21 points (5-16-21). In goal, Blake Pietila boasts a 19-11-2 record with a .920 save percentage and a 1.86 goals against average and has played in all 33 games for the Huskies, starting every single contest for Michigan Tech. They are still one of the nation's best special teams groups with a deadly power play and penalty kill - a total of eight Huskies have multiple power play goals this season.

Marek Named CCHA Rookie of the Week For Third Time, Tying BGSU's Swankler For Most This Season

Bradley Marek ran his goal-scoring streak to three games and tied for the CCHA lead in freshmen point-scoring on the weekend (2) with more goals than any CCHA freshman. The centerman won 54.8 percent of his faceoff draws, continuing to lead all CCHA freshmen in faceoff percentage and faceoff victories. Marek notched a power play goal each night, running his season total to seven, one short of the overall the league lead (Brian Halonen, MTU, Sr.) 

On Saturday, Marek's goal from the bottom of the right circle came from a sharp angle - he blasted it cross cage and top left corner past NMU keeper Charlie Glockner for the eventual game-winning goal. His strong shot blocking skills also helped Ferris State to rebound and topple Northern Michigan Saturday evening.

This Week in Bulldog History

March 6-7, 2015 - Ferris State sweeps Lake Superior State on the road (4-1 and 3-0) to wrap the regular season and earn a date with Bemidji State in the midst of what would become a late season five-game unbeaten streak. Gerald Mayhew's three-goal weekend helped push the Bulldogs past Lake Superior State while CJ Motte allowed just one goal on 46 shots (.978 save percentage) as the Bulldogs blasted their way into the first round of the playoffs on a dominating sweep.

Around The Mason Cup Playoffs (All Game Times Eastern Standard)

#1 Seed Minnesota State Hosts #8 St. Thomas - March 4 (8:07), March 5 (7:07) and March 6 (6:07)*

#3 Seed Bemidji State hosts #6 Bowling Green - March 4 (8:07), March 5 (7:07) and March 6 (6:07)*

# 4 Seed Lake Superior hosts #5 Northern Michigan - March 4 (6:07), March 5 (6:07) and March 6 (6:07)*