FERRIS STATE SIGNS TWO RECRUITS IN EARLY-SIGNING PERIOD

Forwards Bomersback and Rutkowski To Join The Bulldogs In 2003-04

Big Rapids, Mich. – Ferris State University men’s ice hockey head coach Bob Daniels has announced the signing of forwards Mark Bomersback (Rochester, Alberta) and Matt Rutkowski (Sterling Heights) to national letters-of-intent to attend and play ice hockey at FSU, beginning in the 2003-04 academic year.

“I believe this season’s recruiting class is off to a great start with the signing of these two talented players,” said Daniels. “We wanted to maintain and upgrade our team’s overall offensive skill level which we accomplished with these signings. Both individuals are not only talented but possess great character and are solid student-athletes.”

Bomersback, a 5-10, 180-pound forward, is currently in his third season with the Canmore (Alberta) Eagles of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). In 30 games this campaign, Bomersback has tallied 21 goals with 32 assists for 53 points and presently is the AJHL’s top scorer. Bomersback and the Eagles currently lead the AJHL’s South Division with a 29-1-0 record, which ranks second-best overall in the league. The forward is Canmore's all-time leading points leader with 333 points on 116 goals and 217 assists in 216 games to date and is the sixth highest scorer in AJHL history. A season ago, he was named Canmore’s Most Valuable Player and received the team’s Players Choice Award along with being selected a tri-recipient of the Eagles’ Source For Sports Player of the Year Award after leading the team in scoring. Bomersback was also honored as the squad’s Rookie of the Year in 1999-00.

“Mark is a gifted two-way player who's not only a threat to score goals but is outstanding at setting up his teammates to score,” Daniels said. “His great playmaking skills will blend in well with the current talent we have on the ice.”

A 5-11, 174-pound forward, Rutkowski is currently skating for the North American Hockey League’s (NAHL) Detroit (Mich.) Compuware Ambassadors and was an integral part of Compuware’s 2001-02 USA Hockey Junior A National Championship team. Rutkowski has compiled a team and league-leading 35 points on nine goals and 26 assists in 21 contests this season as Compuware sports a NAHL East Division-leading 17-4-0 mark. He also has recorded a team-best two short-handed tallies and a squad-high tying three game-winning goals to his credit this year. Rutkowski is among 20 NAHL players chosen to participate in the 2002 USA Hockey Top Prospects Tournament, which will be held Dec. 2-4 in Plymouth, Mich. Rutkowski concluded the 2001-02 season as the NAHL’s seventh-leading scorer by totaling 25 goals and 39 assists for 64 points in 52 outings as the Ambassadors captured both the NAHL’s Robertson Cup and regular-season championship titles.

“Matt is a tremendously-skilled forward who plays with an edge,” stated Daniels. “He should be an asset to our team and has is capable of not only scoring goals, but also making his teammates become more productive. Matt is another example of this program’s philosophy of recruiting the tops kids in Michigan.”

Ferris State is currently 9-3-0 overall with a first-place 7-1-0 mark in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) this season. This season’s performance on the ice represents the second-best start ever in the program’s history as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member.

The Bulldogs will graduate seven seniors – forwards Kevin Caudill, Nick Field, Chris Kunitz, and Phil Lewandowski, defensemen Phil Meyer and Troy Milam along with goaltender Matt Swanson.

Name, Position Hometown

Mark Bomersback, Forward Rochester, Alberta
5-10, 180 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 7/8/82
2002-03 team: Canmore Eagles, Alberta Junior Hockey League

Matt Rutkowski, Forward Sterling Heights, Mich.
5-11, 174 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 5/24/82
2002-03 team: Compuware Ambassadors, North American Hockey League