Huge win for Ferris State in front of sellout crowd in Big Rapids
By Ryan Zuke –
BIG RAPIDS – It might just be one win, but it’s a big one for Ferris State.
Despite reaching the NCAA Championship in 2011-12 and advancing to the Midwest Regional Final last season, FSU’s hockey program is still working on putting itself in the national spotlight.
Saturday’s 4-3 season-opening win over No. 8 University of Michigan in front of a home sellout crowd of 2,532 made the spotlight shine just a little bit brighter.
“It’s awesome,” sophomore forward Chad McDonald said of the win. “We’ve had this date marked on our calendar since we found out about it last year. It’s fun. When we can compete and play against a team like Michigan, and beat them, it says thousands of things about our program.”
The Bulldogs did not host a Big Ten team last season, but they did play at Yost Arena, tying the Wolverines then losing 3-2 in a shootout.
But playing a powerhouse program in front of a home crowd to open up the season brought even more meaning to an up-and-coming program like FSU – especially when the team went up 2-0 1:03 minutes into the game.
“There was a ton of emotion in the rink,” FSU coach Bob Daniels said as his team improved to 17-0-1 on home ice in its last 18 games. “It’s pretty intimidating for an opposing team to come in to this rink right now.”
Despite losing four of its top six scorers from a season ago, Daniels said he expects his team to continue to score at a high rate.
The team ranked 10th in scoring last season at 3.21 goals per game, and its four goals on Saturday was a positive start.
McDonald netted two, while freshman Mitch Maloney and sophomore Kyle Schempp, the only NHL draft pick on the team, also scored.
“We have the makings of two deep lines up front,” Daniels said, “and what really helps us too – and I really think it helped tonight – our defense is very mobile, and it’s very difficult to get a forecheck on our team.”
Michigan’s lineup features a lot of young talent, but its youth and inexperience showed, especially early on. Seventeen players on the squad are either a sophomore or freshman.
However, after not having much practice time to get ready for the opener, there are 13 days until Michigan’s next regular season matchup.
“Defensively we have to be better,” Wolverines’ coach Red Berenson said. “When you give up two goals in the first minute, you’re playing catch-up the whole night. I thought our team stayed with it and we had a chance. But goals are hard to come by when you’ve given up four goals against.”