TWO SKATERS INK WITH FERRIS STATE DURING EARLY-SIGNING PERIOD

Bulldogs Sign A Defenseman and Forward To Begin 2004-05 Recruiting Class

The Ferris State University men’s ice hockey team has added two student-athletes to its 2004-05 recruiting class as defenseman Mathieu Pelletier (St-Louis de Ha Ha, Quebec) (pronounced Pell-chay) and forward Dan Riedel (Rochester Hills) (pronounced Rye-dell) have both signed National Letters of Intent to attend and play ice hockey at FSU as announced by 12th-year head coach Bob Daniels.

“I believe we’re off to a good start in our recruiting efforts this season with these two signings,” said Daniels, the 2002-03 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Division I Hockey Coach of the Year. “If we can add a couple of more talented players, we should have a high-quality (recruiting) class. Although this season’s recruiting class won’t be large in numbers, I believe they’re capable of making a significant contribution during their careers.

Head coach Bob Daniels announced Mathieu Pelletier and Dan Riedel have inked with the Bulldogs during the November early-signing period.

“Mathieu and Dan are similar to the type of players we’ve been able to attract at Ferris State – highly skilled with offensive abilities,” added Daniels.

A 5-10, 189-pound defenseman, Pelletier is presently in his initial season with the Cornwall (Ontario) Colts of the Central Junior A Hockey League (CJHL). This season in 21 games, he has registered 17 points with four goals and 13 assists for the Colts while his season point total currently ranks sixth best among the CJHL’s top scoring defensemen. Prior to Cornwall, Pelletier skated for the Quebec Junior AAA Hockey League’s (AAAQ) Lennoxville (Quebec) Cougars in the 2002-03 campaign. The right-handed defenseman helped guide the Cougars to the 2003 Fred Page Cup Championship crown along with competing in the RBC Financial Royal Bank Cup title which is the Stanley Cup of Canadian Junior A Hockey. In both prestigious tournaments, he earned the distinction of being Lennoxville’s top points leader among defensemen. Pelletier, a 2002-03 AAAQ All-Star Game participant, totaled a team sixth-place tying 37 points (13-24–37) in 50 outings last season. His signing represents the fourth consecutive year in which Ferris State has inked a Cornwall player as Pelletier will join fellow Colts alumni Jeff Legue, Tim Vokey and Matt Verdone on the Bulldogs’ roster next season.

“Mathieu has the ability to become a talented “offensive” defenseman,” Daniels said. “He’s a skilled puck handler with great vision of the ice. As with all defensemen there’s a big adjustment the first month in the collegiate game, but if Mathieu adapts to the change coupled with his skating skills the transformation may occur quickly.”

Riedel, a 5-10, 175-pound forward, is skating for the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Springfield Jr. Blues this season. In 21 contests to date this season, Riedel has scored 14 goals with 16 assists for a team-high 30 points. He was named the North NAHL Offensive Player of the Week earlier this campaign (11/4). A season ago, Riedel was honored as the NAHL’s Rookie of the Year after pacing the Jr. Blues and league rookies in scoring with 67 points (third overall in the NAHL) on 29 goals and 38 assists. The left-handed winger was also recognized as the NAHL/Michigan Hockey Player of the Month for March 2003.

“Dan is a talented forward who’s extremely offensive minded and has a great knack for being around the net,” stated Daniels. “With improved conditioning and greater knowledge on the defensive end, he could develop into an outstanding player.”

Ferris State is currently 4-8-0 overall and 3-7-0 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) this season. The Bulldogs will lose five players to graduation following the 2003-04 campaign – forwards Trevor Large, Derrick McIver, and Brett Smith, defenseman Simon Mangos, and goaltender Matt Swanson.

Name, Position Hometown

Mathieu Pelletier, Defenseman, St-Louis de Ha Ha, Quebec
5-10, 189 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 10/24/83
2003-04 team: Cornwall Colts, Central Junior A Hockey League

Dan Riedel, Forward, Rochester Hills, Michigan
5-10, 175 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 4/23/85
2003-04 team: Springfield Jr. Blues, North American Hockey League