FERRIS STATE ANNOUNCES HOCKEY RECRUITS

Bulldogs Welcome Talented Performers From All Positions

Ferris State University men’s ice hockey head coach Bob Daniels announced today (May 18) that five more student-athletes have committed to attend FSU and join the Bulldogs’ hockey program, beginning with the 2004-05 season.

Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels will bring in at least six new faces for the 2004-05 season, including five in-state products.(Sandy Gholston)

The list includes goaltender Derek MacIntyre (Stanwood), defensemen Jim Jorgensen (Sault Ste. Marie) and Alex Spezia (Farmington Hills) along with forwards Adam Miller (Livonia) and Matt Stefanishion (Daysland, Alberta). Another forward, Dan Riedel (Rochester Hills), inked with Ferris State during last November’s early-signing period.

“I believe we filled a lot of our needs with this recruiting class,” said Daniels, who will embark on his 13th year at FSU this upcoming 2004-05 season and is the program’s all-time winningest coach. “We’ve added some guys who can step in and contribute this season. We also have some others who have considerable talent but need to develop.”

“This class brings a nice balance of size and skill. Overall, the (coaching) staff is excited about working with these student-athletes both on and off the ice,” added Daniels.

MacIntyre, a 6-2, 185-pound netminder, played this last season for the Soo (Mich.) Kewadin Indians of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). MacIntyre, a 2003-04 All-NAHL Second-Team selection, earned the distinction of being the only player to receive both league all-star and all-rookie team accolades. He led the NAHL’s North Division Regular-Season champions with a 1.77 goals against average (65 goals allowed) to go along with a 31-3-2 record and a .924 saves percentage (786 saves) in 39 contests. MacIntyre also recorded four shutouts and finished second among the league’s goaltenders with 31 victories and tied for fourth place in save percentage as the Indians paced the NAHL in least amount of goals against. MacIntyre, the NAHL North Division’s Defensive Player of the Month for February 2004, is listed 21st among goaltenders on the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Central Scouting Services final rankings for players eligible for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft June 26-27 in Raleigh, N.C.

“Derek is a big, butterfly goaltender who’s technically solid,” said Daniels. “He should push (current FSU starting goaltender) Mike Brown for playing time this season.”

A teammate of MacIntyre’s, Jorgensen was also a NAHL All-Rookie Team pick this past season for the Soo Kewadin Indians, who registered a 44-6-6 overall record. Jorgensen totaled eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points in 55 contests as his season-point total ranked eighth best on the squad and tied for 10th overall among the league’s defensemen. The 5-11, 185-pound blueliner played an instrumental role in helping the Indians to a runner-up finish in the USA Hockey Jr. A National Championship Tournament in 2002-03 after being called up at the conclusion of the Midget AAA season. Jorgensen played Midget AAA hockey for the Soo Kewadin Indians prior to moving up on the Junior A squad two seasons ago.

“Jim is an offensively-skilled defenseman,” Daniels said. “His decision making with the puck is good and he skates notably well.”

A 5-10, 180-pound defenseman, Spezia joins the Bulldogs after spending the last two seasons (2002-04) with the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) Chicago (Ill.) Steel. He compiled team eighth-place leading 24 points with six goals and 18 assists and had +11 efficiency rating in 58 contests in 2003-04 as the Steel captured the USHL’s East Division Regular-Season title with a 34-22-4 mark. In his initital campaign (2002-03) with Chicago, Spezia notched a goal and five assists for six points and was +3 in 55 outings.

“Alex is a dynamic skating defenseman,” stated Daniels. “He’s solid defensively and can generate scoring opportunities.”

The versatile Miller, who can play either wing or center, skated in the 2003-04 campaign for the Des Moines (Iowa) Buccaneers of the USHL. The 6-0, 180-pound left-handed forward tied for third in team scoring with 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points in 54 appearances. He notched a +4 rating to go with seven power-play tallies and two game-winning markers. His season goal total in 2003-04 represented the second highest among the squad’s leaders. In three playoff games, Miller had added three points with a goal and a pair of assists. He concluded this regular season tied for 21st in USHL scoring and finished in a 13th-place tie among the league’s top goal scorers.

“Adam has a lot of talent and is offensively gifted,” Daniels said. “We’re expecting him to contribute right away.”

The 6-3, 210-pound Stefanishion, is coming off a productive 2003-04 campaign for the Melville (Saskatchewan) Millionaires of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) in which he placed fifth in league scoring with 77 points on 32 goals and 45 assists in 52 games. Stefanishion’s 32 goals were tied for the fourth most among the SJHL’s leading goal scorers while his assist total tied for fifth place in the league. An all-league first-teamer, Stefanishion helped the Millionaires win the SJHL’s Sherwood Conference Regular-Season championship this season with a 37-18-3 ledger. He also skated in the 2003-04 SJHL All-Star Game for the Sherwood Conference and was selected as one of top starting forwards as a result of being among the top two vote getters at that position.

“Matt is a big, power forward, who plays a physical style and generates offense,” stated Daniels.

Those five join Riedel, Ferris’ lone early signee. The 5-10, 185-pound forward began this last season with the NAHL’s Springfield (Ill.) Jr. Blues and accumulated 39 points with 20 goals and 19 assists in 29 games before being dealt to the Lincoln (Neb.) Stars of the USHL in mid-January. Riedel produced five goals with six assists for 11 points in 16 outings with the Stars. Earlier this campaign (Nov. 4) with Springfield, Riedel was chosen the NAHL North Division’s Offensive Player of the Week. Two seasons ago (2002-03), Riedel was honored as the NAHL’s Rookie of the Year after pacing the Jr. Blues and league rookies in scoring with 67 points (third overall in the NAHL) on 29 goals and 38 assists. The left-handed winger was also recognized as the NAHL/Michigan Hockey Player of the Month for March 2003.

“Dan is a talented forward who’s extremely offensive minded and has a great knack for being around the net,” said Daniels. “With improved conditioning and greater knowledge on the defensive end, he could develop into an outstanding player.”

Ferris State, which compiled 15-20-3 overall mark and was 10-17-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) in the 2003-04 season, will start preparations for the 2004-05 season Saturday, Oct. 2, as the Bulldogs host their annual Crimson and Gold Intrasquad Game at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. (EDT).

2003-04 Ferris State Hockey Recruits

Name, Position Hometown

Jim Jorgensen, Defenseman Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
5-11, 185 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth:7/19/85
2003-04 team: Soo Kewadin Indians, North American Hockey League

Derek MacIntyre, Goaltender Stanwood, Mich.
6-2, 185 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 11/1/85
2003-04 team: Soo Kewadin Indians, North American Hockey League

Adam Miller, Forward Livonia, Mich.
6-0, 180 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 11/21/84
2003-04 team: Des Moines Buccaneers, United States Hockey League

Dan Riedel, Forward Rochester Hills, Mich.
5-10, 185 lbs., Shoots: Left, Date of Birth: 4/23/85
2003-04 team: Lincoln Stars, United States Hockey League

Alex Spezia, Defenseman Farmington Hills, Mich.
5-10, 180 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 3/22/85
2003-04 team: Chicago Steel, United States Hockey League

Matt Stefanishion, Forward Daysland, Alberta
6-3, 210 lbs., Shoots: Right, Date of Birth: 10/5/83
2003-04 team: Melville Millionaires, Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League