Men’s D-I: Ferris State

Former Minnesota State, Northern Michigan staffer, St. Thomas grad Synstegaard named CCHA, WCHA assistant commissioner of operations

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The CCHA and WCHA announced today the hiring of Byron Synstegaard as assistant commissioner of operations. He joins the respective conference offices bringing six years of administrative experience in sport and event operations. “To borrow a hockey term, Byron’s hiring puts our staffing plan back at ‘full strength’ in the WCHA and CCHA,” said Minnesota … Read more

CCHA assistant commissioner, former WCHA associate commissioner Thibodeau leaves post, takes junior hockey role as SIJHL commissioner

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The Superior International Junior Hockey League has announced the hiring of its new commissioner, Dean Thibodeau. Thibodeau joins the league following his time as the assistant commissioner of the CCHA and the associate commissioner of hockey operations with the WCHA. “I appreciated the opportunity to continue my personal and professional growth with the new league … Read more

Ferris State, Lake Superior State to play first-ever college hockey game in Traverse City, Mich., in Nov. 2024

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Ferris State and Lake Superior State will play in the “2024 Superior Ice Showdown: Traverse City Takeover” on Nov. 16 at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. EDT. The historic event marks the first time college hockey has been played in Traverse City. “We’re thrilled to bring … Read more

CCHA announces pair of all-conference teams, all-rookie team for 2023-24 college hockey season

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The CCHA has announced its two all-conference teams and one all-rookie team for the 2023-24 season. ALL-CCHA FIRST TEAM Forward: Sam Morton, Sr., Minnesota State Forward: Lleyton Roed, So., Bemidji State Forward: Jared Westcott, Sr., Lake Superior State Defenseman: Kyle Looft, 5th, Bemidji State Defenseman: Eric Pohlkamp, Fr., Bemidji State Goaltender: Mattias Sholl, Jr., Bemidji … Read more

Alaska, UConn, Ferris State, defending champ Wisconsin announced as field for 2024 Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off men’s college hockey tournament

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The fourth annual Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off men’s college hockey tournament returns to Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum on Dec. 28-29, featuring No. 5 Wisconsin, UConn, Alaska and Ferris State. Single-day tickets at Ticketmaster.com. Semifinal play will take place on Saturday, Dec. 28, with the championship and third-place games on Sunday, Dec. 29. Matchups and times will … Read more

2023-24 CCHA Season Preview: With Minnesota State no longer MacNaughton Cup favorite, league looks tight as ever

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It was an unusually active offseason, at least by CCHA standards. A coaching change at Minnesota State kicked off the summer, with Mike Hastings leaving for Wisconsin and taking four players and most of his coaching staff with him. Then the summer ended with the situation in Bowling Green that saw head coach Ty Eigner … Read more

CCHA announces results of coaches, media preseason polls, individual awards ahead of 2023-24 hockey season

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The CCHA has announced the results of the 2023-24 coaches and media polls and preseason awards chosen by the coaches and media. 2023-24 CCHA Preseason Coaches Poll Michigan Tech – 67 (4 first-place votes) Northern Michigan – 66 (3) Bowling Green – 55 Bemidji State – 49 St. Thomas – 45 (1) Minnesota State – … Read more

Ferris State tabs ‘highly deserving’ longtime Bulldogs staffer Cencer to assistant coach role

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Longtime Ferris State staff member Dave Cencer has been named an assistant coach for the Bulldogs. Cencer, who has served as the program’s coordinator of athletic performance, will work with the Bulldogs’ goaltenders. “We’re excited to move Dave into this role and he’s highly deserving to be labeled as an assistant coach,” said FSU head … Read more

CCHA announces all-conference first, second teams for 2022-23 campaign with Michigan Tech, Minnesota State each boasting three players each

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The CCHA has announced the 2022-23 all-CCHA first and second teams. Six players from four different programs have been recognized on the first team, while six players from six different programs have been recognized in the second team. Forwards Ryland Mosley (Michigan Tech), David Silye (Minnesota State) and Austen Swankler (Bowling Green) are joined by … Read more

Six players from four different schools named to 2022-23 CCHA all-rookie team

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The CCHA has announced the 2022-23 all-rookie team with six players from four different programs recognized. Forwards Kyle Kukkonen (Michigan Tech), Joey Larson (Northern Michigan) and Lleyton Roed (Bemidji State) were joined by defensemen Dalton Norris (Bowling Green) and Josh Zinger (Northern Michigan), as well as goaltender Beni Halasz (Northern Michigan). All year-end awards were … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: With Mason Cup playoffs on tap, teams want conference postseason win to get NCAA tournament bid

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After a CCHA campaign unlike any other came down to, quite literally, the final minute and a half of the regular season, it’s almost hard to believe the playoffs are starting this weekend. Minnesota State ended up winning the MacNaughton Cup – their sixth in a row – with just a tiny bit of drama … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: With most playoff spots still up for grabs, ‘there’s just so much on the line right now’

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It always feels like this. In the 10 years I’ve spent covering the old WCHA, then the new WCHA, and now finally the new CCHA, it can often feel like I’m writing the same story every year at the season’s end: Nothing is decided, and everyone is pretty close. Michigan Tech leads Minnesota State by … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: Ferris State captain Slick says Bulldogs ‘have the ability to win games’ with Bemidji State series on tap ‘if we play our game’

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Matt Slick didn’t know a ton about the CCHA before he arrived at Ferris State this summer, but it didn’t take the Bulldogs long to school their new teammate about the ins and outs of their conference rivalries. And now the defenseman has been in Big Rapids, Mich., for long enough to know exactly what … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: Speed, willingness to adjust to change big part of Ferris State’s MacLaren succeeding on Bulldogs’ back end

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The knot in his stomach when Brenden MacLaren initially took the ice as a defenseman in a real college game is something that he won’t easily forget. “I remember my first couple games there were a couple times where I’m like, ‘Holy crap, there’s a forward on Mankato ripping full speed down the ice at … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: Dissecting conference’s contenders, pretenders with ’22-23 second half approaching

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It’s that time of year again. I’m not talking about the holidays. I’m talking about the end of the first half of the college hockey season, when my editors generously let me write a thousand or so words where I get to pretend like I’m Nostradamus. And, if you’ve been following the CCHA at all … Read more

This Week in CCHA Hockey: In face of schedule tweaks, Ferris State staying competitive with balance, depth across board

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When the NCAA finally started letting Division I teams play against one another for in-season exhibition games last season, it was a big relief to coaches across the country. Now, no longer at the whims of whatever Canadian team was able to cross the border during the first few weeks of the season, coaches have … Read more

CCHA Hockey 2022-23 Season Preview: After successful return in 2021-22, conference teams ready to take next step

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The first season of the CCHA’s return to competition was nearly perfect. We’ll stress the word “nearly” there. Minnesota State came within a period of winning its first-ever national title, leading Denver 1-0 going into the third period of the NCAA championship game before ultimately losing 5-1. That, of course, wasn’t the way the Mavericks … Read more

Minnesota State first in 2022-23 CCHA coaches poll; Mavericks’ Furry preseason player of year, NMU’s Larson preseason top rookie

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Minnesota State has been selected by the CCHA head coaches to win the MacNaughton Cup, which is awarded to the regular-season champion, in the 2022-23 preseason coaches poll. The defending champions and Frozen Four finalists also won the 2022 Mason Cup as the league’s tournament winners. The Mavericks collected six first-place votes and totaled 69 … Read more

Ferris State, Michigan State, Michigan Tech, Western Michigan make up 2022 GLI field as event moves to Grand Rapids, Mich.

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The next Great Lakes Invitational tournament will have a new look for the upcoming 2022 edition. Michigan Tech is once again the tournament host and brings the annual holiday classic to Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich., on December 27-28. GLI mainstay Michigan State will join the Huskies along with Western Michigan and Ferris … Read more