# 2023–24 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season

The 2023–24 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season was the 49th season of play for the program and the 38th in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The Bulldogs represent Ferris State University, played their home games at Ewigleben Arena and were coached by Bob Daniels in his 32nd season.

## Season

Ferris State began the year with a stretch of up-and-down hockey. In the first two months of the season, the offense was middling but consistent. The goaltending duties were split between Logan Stein and Noah Giesbrecht with both providing reliable netminding. By early December, the team was near .500 and had shown signs of improvement. Unfortunately, that was when their season began to unravel. A dip in scoring resulted in seven game losing streak that set the team at the bottom of the standings, where they would remain for the rest of the year.
The team recovered a bit after the Great Lakes Invitational, earning a split with league champion Bemidji State and then winning four in a row to close out January. However, the scoring faltered for a second time afterwards and the team was unable to win any of its final nine games.
Despite its poor finish, Ferris State was nearly able to pull off an upset in the first round of the conference tournament. Twice the team was able to get a 2-goal advantage in their opening game against Bemidji State but they were unable to hold onto either of their leads. The overtime goal appeared to sap whatever energy the team had left and they were swept out of the conference tournament with an 0–4 loss.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Mitchel Deelstra | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Northern Michigan |
| Blake Evennou | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Atlanta Gladiators) |
| Luke Farthing | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to Canisius |
| Cade Kowalski | Forward | Canada | Graduate transfer to Prince Edward Island |
| Bradley Marek | Forward | United States | Signed professional contract (San Jose Barracuda) |
| Brenden Rons | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to Lindenwood |
| Matt Slick | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (signed with Adirondack Thunder) |
| Dallas Tulik | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Robert Morris |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Luigi Benincasa | Forward | Canada | 20 | Edmonton, AB |
| Nico DeVita | Defenseman | United States | 22 | Bellevue, WA; transfer from New Hampshire |
| Holden Doell | Forward | Canada | 19 | Martensville SK |
| Emerson Goode | Forward | United States | 20 | Anaheim, CA |
| Nick Hale | Defenseman | United States | 24 | Raleigh, NC; graduate transfer from Holy Cross |
| Jack Mesic | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Plymouth, MI |
| Trevor Taulien | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Crystal Lake, IL |

## Roster

As of September 18, 2023.

## Standings

2023–24 Central Collegiate Hockey Association Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Bemidji State † | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 48 | 82 | 64 | 38 | 20 | 16 | 2 | 117 | 111 |
| St. Thomas | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 68 | 62 | 37 | 15 | 20 | 2 | 97 | 105 |
| #19 Michigan Tech* | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 63 | 54 | 40 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 109 | 102 |
| Minnesota State | 24 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 73 | 62 | 37 | 18 | 15 | 4 | 111 | 96 |
| Northern Michigan | 24 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 36 | 57 | 67 | 34 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 83 | 105 |
| Bowling Green | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 60 | 69 | 36 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 86 | 116 |
| Lake Superior State | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 34 | 79 | 73 | 38 | 17 | 20 | 1 | 114 | 113 |
| Ferris State | 24 | 6 | 17 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 49 | 80 | 36 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 83 | 125 |
| Augustana ^ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 12 | 18 | 4 | 90 | 105 |
| Championship: March 22, 2024 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Mason Cup) ^ Augustana is playing a transition schedule of 16 games against conference opponents that are not counted in the standings Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular season ||||||||||
| October 7 | 7:07 pm | Miami* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 1,678 | 1–0–0 |
| October 8 | 5:07 pm | Miami* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–5 | 1,250 | 1–1–0 |
| October 12 | 7:00 pm | at #12 Western Michigan* | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Giesbrecht | L 4–6 | 3,640 | 1–2–0 |
| October 13 | 7:07 pm | #12 Western Michigan* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | T 3–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,675 | 1–2–1 |
| October 20 | 7:07 pm | Grand Valley State* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan (Exhibition) | FloHockey | Stein | W 9–0 | 1,910 | |
| October 27 | 7:07 pm | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 4,040 | 2–2–1 (1–0–0) |
| October 28 | 6:07 pm | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 1–4 | 4,135 | 2–3–1 (1–1–0) |
| November 3 | 7:07 pm | St. Lawrence* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–5 | 1,640 | 2–4–1 |
| November 4 | 6:07 pm | St. Lawrence* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 1,712 | 3–4–1 |
| November 10 | 7:07 pm | Minnesota State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–6 | 1,537 | 3–5–1 (1–2–0) |
| November 11 | 6:07 pm | Minnesota State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | — | 3–6–1 (1–3–0) |
| November 17 | 7:07 pm | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,379 | 4–6–1 (2–3–0) |
| November 18 | 6:07 pm | at Michigan Tech | MacInnes Student Ice Arena • Houghton, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–3 | 2,279 | 4–7–1 (2–4–0) |
| December 1 | 7:07 pm | St. Thomas | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 5–2 | 1,754 | 5–7–1 (3–4–0) |
| December 2 | 6:07 pm | St. Thomas | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–7 | 1,834 | 5–8–1 (3–5–0) |
| December 8 | 7:07 pm | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | FloHockey | Stein | L 0–1 | 1,836 | 5–9–1 (3–6–0) |
| December 9 | 7:07 pm | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | FloHockey | Stein | L 3–4 | 1,816 | 5–10–1 (3–7–0) |
| December 16 | 6:07 pm | Lake Superior State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 1–5 | 1,492 | 5–11–1 (3–8–0) |
| Great Lakes Invitational ||||||||||
| December 28 | 7:00 pm | vs. #7 Michigan State* | Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Semifinal) | FloHockey | Stein | L 1–4 | 7,950 | 5–12–1 |
| December 29 | 3:30 pm | vs. Alaska* | Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Consolation Game) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–3 | — | 5–13–1 |
| January 5 | 7:07 pm | Bemidji State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 1–4 | 1,504 | 5–14–1 (3–9–0) |
| January 6 | 6:07 pm | Bemidji State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 5–3 | 1,734 | 6–14–1 (4–9–0) |
| January 12 | 8:07 pm | at Minnesota State | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–4 | 4,244 | 6–15–1 (4–10–0) |
| January 13 | 7:07 pm | at Minnesota State | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 0–4 | 4,615 | 6–16–1 (4–11–0) |
| January 19 | 7:07 pm | Lake Superior State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 3–5 | 2,040 | 7–16–1 (5–11–0) |
| January 20 | 6:07 pm | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,112 | 8–16–1 (6–11–0) |
| January 26 | 8:07 pm | at Augustana* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey | Stein | W 5–2 | 3,183 | 9–16–1 |
| January 27 | 7:07 pm | at Augustana* | Midco Arena • Sioux Falls, South Dakota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 3,141 | 10–16–1 |
| February 2 | 7:07 pm | Bowling Green | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 3–4 | 1,901 | 10–17–1 (6–12–0) |
| February 3 | 6:07 pm | Bowling Green | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–3 | 2,275 | 10–18–1 (6–13–0) |
| February 15 | 8:07 pm | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,256 | 10–19–1 (6–14–0) |
| February 16 | 7:07 pm | at Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–4 | 2,153 | 10–20–1 (6–15–0) |
| February 23 | 7:07 pm | Northern Michigan | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–3 | 1,950 | 10–21–1 (6–16–0) |
| February 24 | 5:07 pm | Northern Michigan | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | T 1–1 $^{SOW}$ | 2,389 | 10–21–2 (6–16–1) |
| March 1 | 7:07 pm | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–4 | 1,122 | 10–22–2 (6–17–1) |
| CCHA Tournament ||||||||||
| March 8 | 8:07 pm | at Bemidji State* | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 1) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 1,725 | 10–23–2 |
| March 9 | 7:07 pm | at Bemidji State* | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota (Quarterfinal Game 2) | FloHockey | Stein | L 0–4 | 2,176 | 10–24–2 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Antonio Venuto | RW | 36 | 12 | 14 | 26 | 44 |
| Luigi Benincasa | F | 33 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 6 |
| Travis Shoudy | D | 36 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 14 |
| Štěpán Pokorný | F | 36 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 26 |
| Jason Brancheau | F | 35 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 16 |
| Kaleb Ergang | RW | 34 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 10 |
| Zach Faremouth | F | 34 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 24 |
| Emerson Goode | C/W | 32 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 24 |
| Jack Mesic | D | 36 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| Tyler Schleppe | F | 25 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 11 |
| Nick Hale | D | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 |
| Trevor Taulien | D | 27 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 20 |
| Nick Nardecchia | RW | 34 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 27 |
| Jacob Dirks | F | 27 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Austin McCarthy | F | 20 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Caiden Gault | F | 19 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Drew Cooper | D | 24 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Connor McGrath | C | 28 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
| Holden Doell | F | 24 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 |
| Andrew Noel | D | 35 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Brenden MacLaren | F | 27 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| Ben Schultheis | D | 21 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Jacob Badal | LW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nico DeVita | D | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Noah Giesbrecht | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Stein | G | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 83 | 140 | 223 | 303 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Logan Stein | 22 | 1219:18 | 5 | 13 | 1 | 59 | 595 | 0 | .910 | 2.90 |
| Noah Giesbrecht | 19 | 960:41 | 5 | 11 | 1 | 62 | 480 | 0 | .886 | 3.87 |
| Empty Net | - | 14:57 | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 36 | 2194:56 | 10 | 24 | 2 | 126 | 1075 | 0 | .895 | 3.44 |

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR |
| USA Hockey | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | – | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 11 and 25. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.

## Awards and honors

| Player | Award | Ref |
| Luigi Benincasa | CCHA Rookie Team | |