The Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey team is an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represents Ferris State University. The Bulldogs are a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). They play at Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan.
History Ferris State's ice hockey program began in 1975 as a member of the NAIA and joined the CCHA as an affiliate member. In the program's four seasons in the NAIA the team compiled an overall record of 58-40-1-.591, including three seasons above .700 winning percentage and a program best winning percentage of .795 in the 1976–77 season. The program moved up to NCAA Division I status and became a full member of the CCHA in 1979. They joined the WCHA in 2013 before returning to the CCHA prior to the 2021–22 season.
Ferris State turned in its best season performance ever in the program's NCAA Division I history for the 2002-03 campaign with a school-best 31-10-1 overall record. The Ferris Bulldogs also claimed their first-ever CCHA Regular-Season Championship title with a first-place 22-5-1 league mark. Ferris State received an at-large bid to the 2003 NCAA Tournament and beat North Dakota 5-2 and advanced to the West Regional title game in their initial NCAA Tourney appearance, before losing a high scoring game to Minnesota 4–7. FSU also earned the distinction of being the nation's first team to reach the 30-win plateau in 2002-03 and also competed in the CCHA Super Six Championship Tourney for the first time since 1993.
The 2011–12 season was historic for the Ferris State ice hockey program. The Bulldogs began the season on a six-game win streak, their best start to a season since 1979-80 when The Bulldogs recorded an eight-game streak. The team ended the regular season with their first CCHA Regular Season Championship since the program's first in 2002–03. The season was highlighted by a 14-game unbeaten streak from January 6, 2012, to February 25 in which the team recorded 11 wins and 4 ties. The Bulldogs were also ranked first in the NCAA men's ice hockey poll for a two-week period in the season for the first time in school history. After the team finished with the top record in the CCHA, the Bulldogs received a first round bye for the 2012 CCHA Tournament. Ferris State played Bowling Green in the second round, after the Falcons upset Northern Michigan. In the best-of-three series, the Falcons picked up a win in overtime in the opening game followed by goal outburst in the second game that saw Ferris State even the series with a 7–4 win. In the final game of the series, Ferris State was unable to hold on to a three-goal lead as BGSU rallied back to force overtime. The Falcons scored in the extra period to win the CCHA quarterfinal series. Despite the loss in the CCHA playoffs, the Bulldogs received an at-large bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Ferris State defeated Denver and Cornell in the first two rounds of the tournament with a pair of 2-1 games. In the program's first appearance in the Frozen Four, the Bulldogs defeated Union 3-1 and advanced to the championship game against Boston College. Ferris State was unable to stop the Eagles' offense en route to BC's third title in five seasons. The team finished with a record of 26-12-5.
Season-by-season results
Source:
Coaches The team has been coached by Bob Daniels since 1992. Daniels is a two-time recipient of the Spencer Penrose Award, awarded by the American Hockey Coaches Association to the NCAA men's ice hockey coach of the year, having won the award in 2003 and 2012. In 2012, he was also named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association coach of the year after he led the Bulldogs to their first appearance in the Frozen Four and NCAA championship game. Daniels is the longest tenured coach of the Bulldogs and is the only coach in program history to record over 300 wins.
As of completion of 2025–26 season Tenure Coach Years Record Pct. 1975–1982 Rick Duffett 7 119–83–7 1982–1986 Dick Bertrand 4 56–74–9 1986 Peter Esdale † 1 † 6–9–1 1986–1990 John Perpich 4 54–92–17 1990–1991 Bob Mancini 2 36–32–12 1992–2025 Bob Daniels 33 510–625–117 2025–Present Brett Riley 1 8–27–2 Totals 7 coaches 51 seasons 789–942–165 † Esdale replaced Bertrand in January 1986.
Awards and honors
NCAA
Spencer Penrose Award Bob Daniels: 2003, 2012
AHCA First Team All-Americans
1993-94: John Gruden, D 2002-03: Mike Brown, G; Chris Kunitz, F 2010-11: Pat Nagle, G 2011-12: Taylor Nelson, G
AHCA Second Team All-Americans
1995-96: Andy Roach, D 1996-97: Andy Roach, D 2001-02: Rob Collins, F 2010-11: Zach Redmond, D 2011-12: Chad Billins, D
WCHA
Individual awards
Rookie of the Year Corey Mackin, F: 2016 Cooper Zech, F: 2019
Defensive player of the year Aaron MacKenzie, 2003 Ryan Caldwell, 2004 Matt Carle, 2006
Scoring Champion Gerald Mayhew, F: 2017
Student-Athlete of the Year Chad McDonald, F: 2017
Coach of the Year Bob Daniels: 2014
Most Valuable Player in Tournament Darren Smith, G: 2016
All-WCHA First Team All-WCHA
2013–14: C. J. Motte, G 2016–17: Gerald Mayhew, F 2018–19: Cooper Zech, D
Second team all-wcha
2013–14: Scott Czarnowczan, D; Garrett Thompson, F 2015–16: Gerald Mayhew, F
Third Team All-WCHA
2013–14: Jason Binkley, D 2014–15: C. J. Motte, G 2015–16: Brandon Anselmini, D 2016–17: Justin Kapelmaster, G 2017–18: Ryker Killins, D
WCHA All-Rookie Team
2013–14: Kyle Schempp, F 2015–16: Corey Mackin, F 2018–19: Cooper Zech, D 2019–20: Jake Willets, D
CCHA
Individual awards
Player of the Year Chris Kunitz: 2003
Rookie of the Year John DePourcq: 1988 Bradley Marek: 2022
Best Offensive Defenseman John Gruden: 1994 Andy Roach: 1996
Terry Flanagan Memorial Award Craig Lisko: 1994 Aaron Lewicki: 2010
Perani Cup Mike Brown: 2003 Aaron Lewicki: 2010
Scholar-Athlete of the Year Chad Billins: 2012
Coach of the Year Bob Daniels: 2003, 2012
All-CCHA First Team All-CCHA
1979–80: Jim Baker, F 1979–80: Jim File, D; George Harrison, D 1981–82: Jim File, D 1993–94: John Gruden, D 1995–96: Andy Roach, D 1996–97: Andy Roach, D 1998–99: Paul Comrie, F 2001–02: Chris Kunitz, F; Rob Collins, F 2002–03: Mike Brown, G; Chris Kunitz, F 2010–11: Pat Nagle, G; Zach Redmond, D 2011–12: Taylor Nelson, G; Chad Billins, D
Second team all-ccha
1979–80: Paul Pickard, D 1983–84: Jim File, D; Randy Merrifield, F 1990–91: Rod Taylor, F 1994–95: Andy Roach, D 1997–98: Brett Colborne, D 1999–00: Brian McCullough, F 2000–01: Phil Osaer, G 2002–03: Simon Mangos, D; Troy Milam, D; Jeff Legue, F 2009–10: Zach Redmond, D 2011–12: Jordie Johnston, F 2012–13: Juho Olkinuora, G; Joey LaLeggia, D 2024–25: Travis Shoudy, D
CCHA All-Rookie Team
1990–91: Pat Mazzoli, G 1993–94: Andy Roach, D 1994–95: Jason Blake, F 1997–98: Kevin Swider, F 2001–02: Mike Brown, G; Matt York, D 2005–06: Dan Riedel, F 2021–22: Bradley Marek, F 2023–24: Luigi Benincasa, F
Olympians Source:
This is a list of Ferris State alumni who played on an Olympic team.
Name Position Ferris State Tenure Team Year Finish Bob Nardella Defense 1988–1991 Italy 1998, 2006 12th, 11th Norm Krumpschmid Center 1988–1992 Austria 1998 14th Jason Blake Center 1994–1995 USA 2006 8th Chris Kunitz Left wing 1999–2003 Canada 2014 Chad Billins Defenseman 2008–2012 USA 2018 7th Pat Nagle Goaltender 2007–2011 USA 2022 5th
Statistical leaders
Career points leaders Source: Player Years GP G A Pts PIM 1983–1987 158 101 107 208 76 1978–1982 137 82 123 205 132 1987–1991 145 73 130 203 52 1983–1987 158 74 125 199 81 1984–1989 164 93 96 189 251 1979–1983 139 76 99 175 105 1999–2003 152 99 76 175 275 1976–1981 124 60 112 172 105 2001–2005 152 67 90 157 147 1978–1982 136 69 83 152 276
Career goaltending leaders Source:
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 30 games Player Years GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA 2011–2015 127 7679 66 49 12 272 15 .926 2.13 1998–2001 59 3198 24 22 6 116 2 .916 2.18 2007–2011 101 5801 45 42 11 224 5 .916 2.32 2008–2012 70 4031 35 20 10 157 4 .917 2.34 2005–2008 86 5074 31 39 15 227 6 .903 2.68 Statistics current through the end of the 2023–24 season.
Ferris State Athletic Hall of Fame The following is a list of people associated with the Ferris State men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Ferris State Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).
Jim Baker (2002) John DePourcq (2002) Paul Lowden (2003) Jim File (2004) Peter Lowden (2004) Randy Merrifield (2005) John Gruden (2007) Andy Roach (2009)
Current roster As of August 30, 2025.
Bulldogs in the NHL
As of July 1, 2025. = NHL All-Star team= NHL All-StarPlayers are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career. = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team Player Position Team(s) Years Games Chad BillinsDefenseman CGY2013–2014100Jason BlakeRight wing LAK, NYI, TOR, ANA1998–20128710Dean ClarkLeft wing EDM1983–198410Rob CollinsRight wing NYI2005–200680Mike ColmanDefensemanSJS1991–1992150John GrudenDefensemanBOS, OTT, WAS1993–2004920Dave KarpaDefensemanQUE, ANA, CAR, NYR1991–20035570Chris KunitzLeft wing, ATL, , TBL, CHI2003–20191,0224Gerald MayhewRight wingMIN, PHI, ANA2019–2022570Greg RalloCenterFLA2011–2013110Zach RedmondDefensemanWPG, COL, MTL, BUF2012–20181330Andy RoachDefensemanSTL2005–200650
References
External links