Men's Ice Hockey

Undrafted Series: Seth Appert

Each week leading up to the 2026-27 season, "The CCHA Show" will interview an undrafted player from each of the eight conference programs and dive into what has made them successful after leaving campus. No matter where their career path has taken them, each has carved out an opportunity for themselves at the next level. 

Undrafted Series Episodes
Seth Appert (Ferris State)
Pheonix Copley (Michigan Tech)
Josh Kotai (Augustana)
Dominik Shine (Northern Michigan)

Seth Appert was a four-year member of the Ferris State hockey program, graduating in 1996. He then spent nine years as an assistant coach with the Denver Pioneers, before being named head coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 2006. Following an 11-year run with the Engineers, a four-year stint with the UNTDP Under-18 Team followed.

In 2020, Appert was named head coach of the Rochester Americans (AHL) and put together a career mark of 123-94-22-10 across four seasons. He then joined the Buffalo Sabres as an assistant coach, where he has worked over the last years, including a historic late-season run into the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26.

Appert played high school hockey at Park High School in Cottage Grove, Minn., before joining the Bulldogs. As an assistant at DU, he coached one All-America, two All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) honorees, two WCHA Playoff Most Valuable Players, and two Frozen Four Most Outstanding Players at Denver. Three of his goaltenders were draft picks of the National Hockey League, including one Hobey Baker Award finalist.

He helped RPI reach in the NCAA Tournament in 2010-11 and coached a two-time ECAC Hockey Player of the Year and Hobey Baker Top-10 Finalist, as well as a number of student-athletes who are now coaching in professional hockey themselves. 

The 2026-27 season opens on October 2 and 3 with all eight CCHA teams in action. Conference play gets underway on October 23 and 24, when Lake Superior State and Ferris State host weekend series against Bowling Green and Michigan Tech, respectively.