Jan. 17, 2024
Ferris State hockey player Caiden Gault’s breakout season reflects his hard work
Caiden Gault invested his growth as a Ferris State University hockey player, and the hard work is paying off, scoring 12 points on eight goals and four assists through 22 games.
Gault and his teammates return to their home ice inside Ewigleben Ice Arena, hungry for a strong performance as the Bulldogs host Bowling Green State. Back home, locking in on the keys to success are a focal point.
"The key to my success has just been playing with confidence. I find that the game has slowed down for me this year, and just trusting my abilities, and playing the way that got me to Ferris State," said Gault, a 6-foot-1 forward from Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada.
"I have focused a lot on the mental side of the game. I struggled with that a lot last year, not playing the way I usually would. I also was in the gym a lot this summer, working on building lower body strength and quickness. I found that really has helped me."
As a freshman, Gault played in 22 games and finished with six points, including three goals. As a sophomore, he tallied five points on two goals and three assists in 20 games. Those numbers during years one and two reflect the breakout season he has had so far during the 2024-25 season.
Gault, who has 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points during his Bulldog career coming into this weekend's games, has focused on playing to his strengths.
"My shot is one of my strengths and I am good at finding lanes for my teammates to pass me the puck," said Gault, who committed to Ferris State after learning about its hockey history and great culture – among other reasons. "My teammates have helped me a lot by setting me up. I think I did a good job using those skills to create offense and score goals."
The Bulldogs are preparing to host a two-game set with the CCHA's fourth-place team, Bowling Green, with faceoff set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday. Gault sees a formula for the Bulldogs to return to the winning column.
"When our team is at its best, we have constant o-zone pressure, we are winning all of our battles, getting pucks on net, hounding loose pucks, forechecking their defense to cough up pucks, using our speed and doing whatever it takes to win," he said.
Scoring goals for the Bulldogs is part of the equation for Gault, who has excelled in the classroom as well as a Business Administration major minoring in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Last season, as a sophomore, Gault earned Central Collegiate Hockey Association Scholar-Athlete honors.
"It means a lot to me," said Gault, who played for Bram Stephan of the Spruce Grove Saints in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. "Good grades are important to me, and it's not easy juggling school and hockey. So being named to that felt very good."
A CCHA Scholar Athlete must achieve a 3.50 grade point average or higher to qualify.
Looking ahead, beyond college hockey, Gault is already at work shaping his future.
"I chose being a Business Administration major because I can do a lot of things with my degree," said Gault, who plans to graduate from Ferris State's College of Business after his senior season in 2026. "My goal is to start my own successful company."