FERRIS STATE CHOSEN EIGHTH IN 2004-05 CCHA COACHES POLL

Senior defenseman Matt York and the Ferris State Bulldogs were chosen to place eighth in the CCHA Coaches Poll for the 2004-05 season. FSU tied for ninth in the league's media poll.

The Bulldogs, under the direction of 13th-year head coach and the all-time winningest coach in the program's history Bob Daniels, received 50 total points in the coaches poll while defending CCHA Regular-Season Champion Michigan was chosen once again as the favorite with 120 total points and 10 first-place votes.

In the media poll, the Bulldogs received 235 points to tie Alaska Fairbanks for ninth place. Michigan was also the favorite among the media pollsters as the Wolverines collected 662 total points, including 48 first-place votes. CCHA coaches and the media agreed on three of the 12 positions, with a different perspective on positions three through 11. The polls were identical last season.

A total of 56 media members ranked the 12 CCHA teams in projected order of finish for the regular season. The 12 CCHA teams were ranked in projected order of finish for the regular season. Points were awarded on a 12-11-10,9, etc., basis. League coaches ranked the CCHA teams excluding their own school in the order they predicted the regular season will end. Points in the coaches poll were tallied on a 11-10-9, etc., basis.

Ferris State was chosen second in the coaches poll a season ago with 104 points and one first-place. The Bulldogs were selected third in the media poll and received two first-place votes. In 2002-03, FSU was picked ninth in both polls and went on to register its most successful season ever in the program's history with a 31-10-1 overall record and a first-place 22-5-1 CCHA mark (45 league points).

The Bulldogs welcome back 18 letterwinners from last season's 15-20-3 team, which placed 10th in the league standings with a 10-17-1 league ledger (21 points).

Ferris State opens the 2004-05 season this Saturday (Oct. 2) with its annual Crimson and Gold Intrasquad Game. Opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m. (EDT) at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The Bulldogs officially start the 2004-05 campaign Oct. 8-9 with a non-league home series against the Colgate Raiders. A 7:35 p.m. (EDT) start time is slated for the Friday (Oct. 8) series opener while Saturday's finale will commence at 7:05 p.m. (EDT).