FERRIS STATE ADDS STEVE LATER TO RECRUITING CLASS

Ferris State University men’s ice hockey head coach Bob Daniels announced today the signing of defenseman Steve Later (Winnipeg, Manitoba) to a national letter-of-intent to attend and play hockey for the Bulldogs, starting with the 2002-03 season.

The 6-3, 200-pound Later registered 65 points with 25 goals and 40 assists in 60 regular-season contests for the 2001-02 season as a member of Manitoba Junior Hockey League’s (MJHL) Winnipeg South Blues. His 65-point total ranked second on the team and was the most among the MJHL’s top points leaders for defensemen. Later also placed tied for second in the MJHL in power-play goals (14) and recorded a league-high 442 penalty minutes.

“We’re excited to get someone like Steve so late in the recruiting season,” said Daniels. “He’s young in age compared to our other recruits this year but he has a lot of potential and possesses good offensive instincts.

“He definitely knows how to score goals and has a huge upside,” added Daniels. This season, Later was selected to the MJHL All-Star Team and named to the Viking Cup Tournament squad. He garnered all-star honors in 1999-00 while playing for the AAA Bantam Monarchs.

In his first season (2000-01) with Winnipeg, Later compiled 17 points on four goals and 13 assists with 195 penalty minutes in 45 regular-season outings. He notched two goals with seven assists for nine points in 11 playoff appearances during that campaign.

Later joins center Greg Rallo (Gurnee, Ill.), the 2001-02 USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year, left wing Jamie Dunlap (Nepean, Ontario), defenseman Jeremy Scherlinck (Grosse Pointe), center Tim Vokey (Mississauga, Onatario) and defenseman Andrew Winnik (Mississauga, Ontario) as members of the 2002-03 FSU recruiting class.

Ferris State concluded the 2001-02 season with a 15-20-1 overall record, including a ninth-place 12-15-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) mark (25 league points).