The Ferris State Bulldogs will open the 2021-22 season at home against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2-3, at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Saturday's puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. (ET) with the Sunday finale beginning at 4:07 p.m. (ET).

All fans are encouraged to wear white and arrive early for the home opener as the Bulldogs kick off their second era in the CCHA.

Bulldogs to Honor Retiring AD Perk Weisenburger Prior to Saturday's Contest
Ferris State Hockey will honor retiring AD Perk Weisenburger prior to Saturday night's contest against the Redhawks. Since taking over the Bulldog program in the fall of 2010, Weisenburger has led Ferris State Athletics to many major accomplishments, including 23 conference regular-season titles, 17 conference tournament championships, eight NCAA regional crowns, six national semifinal appearances, three berths in a national title game in three separate sports, and the school's first national championship.

Overall, all 17 of the Bulldogs' varsity athletics programs have had representation in NCAA postseason competition at least once during the Weisenburger era while eight of FSU's 10 current head coaches were also hired during his time as the school's athletics director.
 

The Match Up
For two teams that once built a formidable rivalry during the Frozen Four era of Bulldog Hockey, its been a LONG time since their last meetings in Big Rapids, in fact 3,255 days since the Bulldogs wrapped up a weekend split with the Redhawks. Funny enough, the Bulldogs are now BACK in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) where these two teams went blow-for-blow for decades on end. These will be the 107th and 108th meetings in program history. A fall 2018 weekend split at the Goggin Ice Center in Miami kept the Bulldogs two games over the all-time .500 mark against the Redhawks.

Familiar faces are everywhere: Former Bowling Green bench boss Chris Bergeron now stands sentinel behind the Miami bench as he looks to turn around the ship that the Redhawks rode to national glory during the late CCHA era. Bergeron brought talented offensive defenseman Will Cullen, a former player of his at BGSU, to Miami this offseason. The backbone of the squad was perhaps one of the harder-worked keepers in the NCHC in Ludvig Persson. The swift Swede has put up prodigious numbers since coming overseas to North America after spending his U20 days with the world-renowned Frolunda development program. Look out as well for fourth-round draft choice of the Detroit Red Wings, Redmond Savage, veteran defenseman and offensive power Derek Daschke, sophomore speedster Matthew Barbolini, as well as Holy Cross transfer and leading scorer Matt Barry.

For the Dawgs, a year of experience for one of college hockey's youngest rosters (by population of class/games played) did them a service. They found one of the best chance suppressors in the league in Brenden Rons, who a year prior, played mostly at forward. They found their freshmen class (10 strong), many who played against Minnesota State in last year's playoff series, were able to push a strong and veteran team to the limit. Ferris State put up record-conditioning testing numbers and appears to be improved in many facets.
 

The New Dawgs
Seven new Bulldogs join the squad this year, including six freshmen and a senior transfer. On the blue line, freshman Nico DeVita (Aberdeen, NAHL) and senior transfer from Robert Morris Brendon Michaelian, the twin brother of current Bulldog forward Justin Michaelian, join the crew. Ferris State has five new forwards in Kaleb Ergang (Whitecourt, AJHL), Zach Faremouth (Des Moines, USHL), Nick Grimaldi (Odessa, NAHL), Bradley Marek (Muskegon, USHL) and Nick Nardecchia (Lincoln, USHL). NeutralZone ranked Ferris State's recruiting class their second-best in the last five seasons by points and ahead of the WCHA Tournament runner-up in ranking.

Bulldog Power Play A Strength For Young Ferris State Squad Last Season
Last season, at 19.4 percent, Ferris State's power play had its best year in over a decade. Consider the Bulldogs did it with a squad that featured 20 underclassmen and it's easy to see the optimism for the offensive potential of this young squad. The Bulldogs return nine of their 14 power play goals, including their leader in then freshman forward Mitch Deelstra, who finished as the team's second-leading goal scorer. Ferris State finished 23rd nationally, its best finish in over 10 years, and featured eight different power play scorers. With improved speed and experience, the man-advantage figures to see yet another upshot in 2021-22.

The Broadcast
Harrison Watt returns as the Bulldogs' radio and television play-by-play voice for his eighth season as a member of the broadcast crew and sixth as play-by-play voice of the Bulldogs. Ferris State Hockey announced that Scott Kendra has joined the crew as an analyst for the 2021-22 season - the game will be carried live on FloHockey.TV and will be produced by Ferris State Television, as well as on the Bulldog Sports Network and flagship radion station Sunny 97.3 FM.

Bulldogs Announce Facility Upgrades to Dressing Room
Ferris State Hockey will leave after its Oct. 9 home contest with Western Michigan and return home at the end of the month to a completely refurbished dressing room featuring new stall cushions, an LED ceiling logo, LED lighting on locker stalls, improved dressing room lighting, new graphic art, and a new contemperary look on locker stalls. Dimensional Designs and Ferris State Physical Plant will install the upgrades.

Daniels Begins 30th Season
Ferris State Hockey's winningest coach will embark upon his 30th season behind the Bulldog bench, the most of any coach in school history. Coach Bob Daniels has been at the helm for nearly 64 percent of the program's history.

This Week In Bulldog History
Oct. 2, 2011 - Ferris State opens the first of a seven-game win streak (exhibition included) with a 5-0 win over Toronto to open the memorable Frozen Four campaign.