16 Home Contests Highlight 2001-2002 Season

The first opportunity to watch the 2001-02 Bulldogs will be Wednesday, Oct. 3, with the annual Crimson and Gold Intrasquad Game. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (EDT) at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. Ferris then will play host to Waterloo (Ontario) Friday, Oct. 5, in an exhibition contest, starting at 7:35 p.m. (EDT). All home starting times on Fridays have been switched to 7:35 p.m. while Saturday game start times will remain at 7:05 p.m.

The Bulldogs officially start their 27th season of intercollegiate competition and 34-game regular-season schedule on the road against Wayne State (Oct. 12-13). Opening faceoff for both games of the non-league series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. (EDT) at the Fraser City Ice Arena in Fraser, Mich. The two-game set will also mark the first-ever meeting between the teams since WSU initially sponsored a NCAA Division I program with the start of the 1999-00 season.

Ferris State opens its 28-game CCHA schedule Saturday, Oct. 20, against Michigan State at East Lansing, Mich., before returning home to begin a four-game league homestand, starting with Miami (Oct. 26-27) and then Lake Superior State (Nov. 2-3). A league home-and-home series versus the University of Michigan (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) and the regular-season finale at Michigan State (Mar. 2) are among other schedule highlights. Other CCHA teams making an Ewigleben Ice Arena appearance this season include the Alaska Fairbanks (Nov. 16-17), Ohio State (Dec. 14-15), Bowling Green State (Nov. 8-9) and Western Michigan (Feb. 23).

The CCHA cluster schedule format has the Bulldogs grouped with Michigan State, Miami and Ohio State. Ferris will play each of those teams four times, two at home and two on the road.

FSU also will be participating in a Holiday Tournament for the third straight season with the Bulldogs slated to compete in the Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis, Minn. The tourney field features Western Michigan taking on 2000-01 NCAA West Regional participant Providence in Friday's (Dec. 28) opening round at 5:05 p.m. (EST) with Ferris State and host Minnesota, a 2000-01 NCAA East Regional qualifier to follow at 8:05 p.m. Final round play will commence Sunday, Dec. 29, with the third-place game to be held at 5:05 p.m. proceeded by the championship game at 8:05 p.m. Ferris' last appearance at the Mariucci Classic was back in the 1992-93 season when the Bulldogs captured the tourney title with victories over Minnesota (6-4) and St. Lawrence (4-1).

The Bulldogs' remaining non-league competition is a two-game home set against Bemidji State (Jan. 25-26). Ferris posted victories in both games at BSU two seasons ago (Nov. 11-12), winning 8-0 and 4-2.

"Our schedule will be challenging," said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. "We not only have to compete in one of the nation's most competitive leagues, but we're also in one of the top three holiday tournaments (Mariucci Classic) in the country. We're excited about getting an opportunity to play in Minnesota's first-class facility and to return as a previous tournament champion.

"Our non-league schedule will feature our first-ever series with Wayne State and the first appearance by Bemidji State in our rink. The Wayne State series makes sense for us geographically and our program has always made a point to play emerging teams in order to promote the growth of college hockey," added Daniels.

Ferris State concluded the 2000-01 season with a 13-20-5 overall record. The Bulldogs placed eighth in the final 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.

A new CCHA Postseason Tournament structure, which will be implemented this upcoming season, will include all 12 league teams with the top six finishers during the regular season hosting a first-round, best-of-three series.
For 2001-02 Ferris State hockey ticket information, contact the FSU Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888.