FERRIS SIGNS CLOUTIER TO NATIONAL LETTER-OF-INTENT

The Ferris State University men's ice hockey program has received a commitment from left wing Francis Cloutier (Repentigny, Quebec) (pronounced Clue-chay) to attend and play ice hockey at FSU, beginning with the 2002-03 academic year.

A 6-2, 190-pound forward, Cloutier will be required to sit out the 2001-02 season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules in order to regain amateur status for the following season.

"Francis is a talented power forward who possesses dynamic scoring ability," said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. "He brings a great dimension of size and talent to our team. Francis comes from good hockey bloodlines and we're excited about his future here at Ferris State."

Cloutier played the 2000-01 season for the Cornwall (Ontario) Colts of the Central Junior Hockey League (CJHL) and teamed with fellow Ferris State recruit Jeff Legue (lah-gwee) to form one of the league's top scoring lines. The pair were the only individuals in the CJHL to average a goal per game. A 2000-01 CJHL Second-Team selection, Cloutier registered 94 points with 52 goals and 42 assists to go along with 213 penalty minutes in 45 contests for the Colts. The left-hand shooting Cloutier, a CJHL All-Star Game participant, played a key role in helping head coach Allan Wagar's Cornwall team to the 2000 CJHL/Eastern Canadian Championship title.

Cloutier is the nephew of National Hockey League Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne, who starred for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers over his 18-year NHL career.

He joins goaltender Mike Brown (Calgary, Alberta), center Jeff Legue (Cornwall, Ontario), left wing Derek Nesbitt (Egmondville, Ontario), defenseman Skip Renauld (Regina, Saskatchewan), right wing Carter Thomson (Milden, Saskatchewan), defenseman Matt York (Woodhaven) and right wing Nick Scheible (Big Rapids) as members of Ferris State's 2001-02 recruiting class.

FERRIS SIGNS FOUR MORE RECRUITS TO NATIONAL LETTER-OF-INTENT

The Ferris State University men's ice hockey program has signed goaltender Mike Brown (Calgary, Alberta), center Jeff Legue (Cornwall, Ontario) (pronounced Lah-gwee), right wing Carter Thomson (Milden, Saskatchewan) and defenseman Matt York (Woodhaven) to national letters-of-intent to attend and play ice hockey at FSU, starting in the 2001-02 academic year.  The announcement was made by ninth-year Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels.

 "We're excited about the caliber of recruits we've signed," said Daniels.  "With this class, we not only fill an offensive role but also add solid defense with some gritty competitors.  Furthermore, all of our recruits were either all-stars and/or most valuable players in their respective leagues."

 Brown is a 5-11, 175-pound netminder who played this past season with the Crowsnest Pass (Alberta) Timberwolves of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL).  He posted a 20-12-2 record in net to go along with a 3.77 goals against average and a .894 save percentage in 35 contests.  The 2000-01 AJHL Second-Team selection finished fourth among the AJHL's top goaltending leaders in save percentage (1,050 total saves) and was seventh in goals against average (124 total allowed).  He previously played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons before becoming joining Crowsnest Pass.

 "Mike is a technically-sound goalie," Daniels said.  "He does a lot of things well and will contend for playing time behind starter Phil Osaer this upcoming season."

 A 5-10, 170-pound center, Legue joins the Bulldogs after spending this last year with the Central Junior A Hockey League's Cornwall (Ontario) Colts.  The highly-regarded Ligue, a finalist for the Royal Bank/Canadian Junior A Hockey League's (CJAHL) Player of the Year Award, achieved the league's Most Valuable Player honor this season while leading the Colts to their second straight Central Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Championship.  A first-team CJHL All-Star, Ligue was both the league scoring champion and most valuable player with a league-leading 54 goals, 71 assists and 125 points in 55 regular-season games.  He also captured the league scoring championship by 31 points and was the CJAHL scoring leader with 67 goals, 90 assists and 157 points in 71 outings.  Legue played an integral role in helping Cornwall capture the 2000 CJHL/Eastern Canadian Championship title.

 "Jeff is arguably one of the best junior hockey players in Canada," said Daniels.  "Through his superior offensive abilities, he possesses the capability to take over a game.  His versatility is yet another of his attributes we like because he can play either left wing or center."

 The 5-9, 180-pound Thomson, a second-team Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) All-Star pick and the Most Valuable Player of the SJHL All-Star Game in 2000-01, totaled 66 points with 33 goals and assists apiece in 62 outings as a member of the SJHL's Melville (Saskatchewan) Millionaires this season.  Thomson's 66-point season total was second best on the squad and ranked 22nd in the SJHL while his goal-scoring output was 10th highest in the league.  He earned Direct West Second-Team laurels at left wing which encompassed junior players from all of the Saskatchewan Hockey Leagues.

 "Carter was one of the SJHL's fastest skaters this past year," said Daniels.  "He will add to our current team speed and is yet another individual who adheres to our philosophy of recruiting quick forwards."

 York, a 6-0, 185-pound defenseman, starred for the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) this past season and finished runner-up in team scoring with 52 points on 15 goals and 37 assists in 47 games.  He also produced five shorthanded goals and was credited with three game-winning tallies.  The 2000-01 NAHL's Most Valuable Defenseman and an all-league first-team selection, York earned the distinction of being the NAHL's top scoring defenseman and placed tied for 17th place in overall league scoring.

 "Matt is a very gifted "offensive" defenseman who can also make his physical presence known on the ice," Daniels said.  "He only strengthens our strong and proud tradition of recruiting the top Michigan prospects."

 Ferris State concluded the 2000-01 season with a 13-20-5 overall record.  The Bulldogs placed eighth in the final Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) standings at 9-15-4 (22 points) and participated in the CCHA Tournament for the 20th time in the program's 22-year history as a NCAA Division I intercollegiate sport.

 The four signees join left wing Derek Nesbitt (Egmondville, Ontario) and defenseman Skip Renauld (Regina, Saskatchewan), who signed national letters-of-intent with FSU during last November's early signing period, as current members of the 2005 class.

2001 Ferris State University Hockey Recruits

  Mike Brown, Goaltender Calgary, Alberta
  5-11, 175 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 9/9/81
  2000-01 team: Crowsnest Pass Timberwolves, Alberta Junior Hockey League
  Statistics: 35 GP, 20-12-2, 3.77 Goals Against Average, .894 Save Percentage

  Jeff Legue, Center Cornwall, Ontario
  5-10, 170 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 5/24/81
  2000-01 team: Cornwall Colts, Central Junior A Hockey League
  Statistics: 55 GP, 54 Goals, 71 Assists, 125 Points, 141 Penalty Minutes

  Derek Nesbitt, Left Wing Egmondville, Ontario
  5-10, 165 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 4/16/82
  2000-01 team: Sarnia Steeplejack Bees, Mid-Western Junior B Hockey League
  Statistics: 53 GP, 22 Goals, 38 Assists, 60 Points, 20 Penalty Minutes
  (Committed during early signing period)

  Skip Renauld, Defenseman Regina, Saskatchewan
  5-11, 175 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 1/5/82
  2000-01 team: Fort McMurray Oil Barons, Alberta Junior Hockey League
  Statistics: 58 GP, 8 Goals, 22 Assists, 30 Points, 160 Penalty Minutes, +10 Plus/Minus
  (Committed during early signing period)

  Carter Thomson, Right Wing Milden, Saskatchewan
  5-9, 180 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 1/12/81
  2000-01 team: Melville Millionaires, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
  Statistics: 62 GP, 33 Goals, 33 Assists, 66 Points, 109 Penalty Minutes

  Matt York, Defenseman Woodhaven, Michigan
  6-0, 185 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 5/9/80
  2000-01 team: Springfield Blues, North American Hockey League
  Statistics: 47 GP, 15 Goals, 37 Assists, 52 Points, 220 Penalty Minutes