# 2022–23 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season

The 2022–23 Ferris State Bulldogs men's ice hockey season was the 48th season of play for the program and the 37th in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). The Bulldogs represented Ferris State University, played their home games at Ewigleben Arena and were coached by Bob Daniels in his 31st season.

## Season

Ferris State had a bit of a mixed bag of a season. Noah Giesbrecht, who had joined the club in the middle of the previous year, established himself as the team's starting goaltender. Unfortunately, he got little help from the defense, which allowed more than 33 shots against per game. The offense was able to effectively replace its leading scorer, however, saw no improvement overall.
In the first half of the season the Bulldogs were rather inconsistent but did manage to put together a road sweep of Minnesota State. When they entered the winter break the team possessed a .500 record and were sitting in the top half of the CCHA. The second half of the year wasn't as kind. After a surprising win over Michigan State won just three more times over the next fifteen games and slid down to 6th in the standings.
When they began postseason play, the Bulldogs weren't expected to do much but the team managed to defy expectations. Giesbrecht weathered an 18-shot third period and enabled Ferris State to push Bowling Green into overtime. A goal from Nick Nardecchia put the team on the cusp of a conference semifinal appearance and Giesbrecht was again called upon to save the day. The sophomore held the Falcons scoreless until just over a minute remained in regulation but the team had just enough offense to send the game into extra time. This time Jason Brancheau scored with his team-leading 13th of the season and advanced the Bulldogs for the first time since 2016.
The team's run ended in the second round when top-seeded Minnesota State exacted their revenge with a 2–7 drubbing. Despite the loss, it was still the best season the program had seen in 7 years.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Nico DeVita | Defenseman | United States | Transferred to New Hampshire |
| Connor Fedorek | Defenseman | United States | Left program (retired) |
| Liam MacDougall | Forward | Canada | Graduation (signed with Cincinnati Cyclones) |
| Carter McPhail | Goaltender | United States | Transferred to Miami |
| Brendon Michaelian | Defenseman | United States | Graduate transfer to Mercyhurst |
| Justin Michaelian | Forward | United States | Graduate transfer to Maine |
| Marshall Moise | Forward | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Roni Salmenkangas | Goaltender | Finland | Graduate transfer to Lindenwood |
| Sam Skinner | Defenseman | United States | Signed professional contract (Idaho Steelheads) |
| Justin Smith | Defenseman | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Ethan Stewart | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Tulsa Oilers) |
| Jake Transit | Forward | United States | Graduation (signed with Orlando Solar Bears) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Jacob Badal | Forward | United States | 20 | Flushing, MI |
| Caiden Gault | Forward | Canada | 20 | Oakbank, MB |
| Joey Henson | Goaltender | United States | 21 | Troy, MI |
| Connor McGrath | Forward | Canada | 20 | LeRoy, SK |
| Andrew Noel | Defenseman | United States | 21 | Maynard, MA |
| Tyler Schleppe | Forward | Canada | 20 | Vancouver, BC |
| Travis Shoudy | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Marysville, MI |
| Matt Slick | Defenseman | United States | 23 | Laredo, TX; graduate transfer from Holy Cross |

## Roster

As of September 5, 2022.

## Standings

2022–23 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 |
| #12 Minnesota State †* | 26 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 52 | 83 | 56 | 39 | 25 | 13 | 1 | 126 | 81 |
| #13 Michigan Tech | 26 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 68 | 54 | 39 | 24 | 11 | 4 | 103 | 88 |
| Bowling Green | 26 | 12 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 89 | 76 | 36 | 15 | 19 | 2 | 114 | 114 |
| Northern Michigan | 26 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 82 | 77 | 38 | 21 | 17 | 0 | 123 | 103 |
| Bemidji State | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 73 | 63 | 36 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 94 | 97 |
| Ferris State | 26 | 9 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 34 | 62 | 91 | 37 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 92 | 131 |
| St. Thomas | 26 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 69 | 81 | 36 | 11 | 23 | 2 | 86 | 117 |
| Lake Superior State | 26 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 52 | 80 | 36 | 9 | 25 | 2 | 71 | 118 |
| Championship: March 18, 2023 † indicates conference regular season champion (MacNaughton Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Mason Cup) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll ||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 1 | 5:05 PM | at Miami* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Stein | T 2–2 $^{OT}$ | 2,805 | 0–0–1 |
| October 2 | 3:05 PM | at Miami* | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Giesbrecht | L 1–4 | 1,181 | 0–1–1 |
| October 7 | 7:07 PM | Michigan Tech* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 2–1 | 1,804 | 1–1–1 |
| October 8 | 7:07 PM | #18 Western Michigan* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 4–6 | 1,604 | 1–2–1 |
| October 14 | 7:07 PM | Canisius* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 3–5 | 1,643 | 1–3–1 |
| October 15 | 7:07 PM | Canisius* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–1 | 1,656 | 2–3–1 |
| October 28 | 7:07 PM | St. Thomas | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,847 | 3–3–1 (1–0–0) |
| October 29 | 6:07 PM | St. Thomas | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–5 | 1,823 | 3–4–1 (1–1–0) |
| November 4 | 8:07 PM | at #20 Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Stein | T 2–2 $^{SOW}$ | 2,036 | 3–4–2 (1–1–1) |
| November 5 | 7:07 PM | at #20 Bemidji State | Sanford Center • Bemidji, Minnesota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–2 $^{OT}$ | 1,639 | 3–5–2 (1–2–1) |
| November 12 | 1:00 PM | Mercyhurst* | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan (Exhibition) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 5–1 | 1,872 | |
| November 18 | 7:07 PM | Bowling Green | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 0–6 | 1,497 | 3–6–2 (1–3–1) |
| November 19 | 7:07 PM | Bowling Green | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–1 | 1,904 | 4–6–2 (2–3–1) |
| December 2 | 8:07 PM | at #11 Minnesota State | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota | KEYC | Giesbrecht | W 2–1 | 4,199 | 5–6–2 (3–3–1) |
| December 3 | 7:07 PM | at #11 Minnesota State | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota | KEYC | Stein | W 3–2 | 4,318 | 6–6–2 (4–3–1) |
| December 9 | 7:07 PM | Northern Michigan | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 5–2 | 1,891 | 7–6–2 (5–3–1) |
| December 10 | 6:07 PM | Northern Michigan | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 2–5 | 2,001 | 7–7–2 (5–4–1) |
| December 16 | 8:07 PM | at St. Thomas | St. Thomas Ice Arena • Mendota Heights, Minnesota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 4–7 | 615 | 7–8–2 (5–5–1) |
| December 17 | 7:07 PM | at St. Thomas | St. Thomas Ice Arena • Mendota Heights, Minnesota | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–2 | 645 | 8–8–2 (6–5–1) |
| Great Lakes Invitational ||||||||||
| December 27 | 7:00 PM | vs. #11 Michigan State* | Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Semifinal) | | Giesbrecht | W 4–2 | - | 9–8–2 |
| December 28 | 7:00 PM | vs. #18 Western Michigan* | Van Andel Arena • Grand Rapids, Michigan (Great Lakes Invitational Championship) | | Stein | L 2–8 | 6,486 | 9–9–2 |
| January 13 | 7:07 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–0 | 1,669 | 10–9–2 (7–5–1) |
| January 14 | 6:07 PM | at Lake Superior State | Taffy Abel Arena • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–4 | 1,213 | 10–10–2 (7–6–1) |
| January 20 | 7:07 PM | #14 Michigan Tech | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 0–1 | 2,156 | 10–11–2 (7–7–1) |
| January 21 | 6:07 PM | #14 Michigan Tech | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | T 3–3 $^{SOW}$ | 2,501 | 10–11–3 (7–7–2) |
| January 27 | 7:07 PM | #14 Minnesota State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 1–4 | 1,571 | 10–12–3 (7–8–2) |
| January 28 | 6:07 PM | #14 Minnesota State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 1–5 | 1,897 | 10–13–3 (7–9–2) |
| February 3 | 7:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 2–1 | 3,211 | 11–13–3 (8–9–2) |
| February 4 | 7:07 PM | at Bowling Green | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | T 4–4 $^{SOW}$ | 3,706 | 11–13–4 (8–9–3) |
| February 10 | 7:07 PM | Bemidji State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 3–2 | 1,947 | 12–13–4 (9–9–3) |
| February 11 | 6:07 PM | Bemidji State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–6 | 1,847 | 12–14–4 (9–10–3) |
| February 17 | 7:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–9 | 2,464 | 12–15–4 (9–11–3) |
| February 18 | 6:07 PM | at Northern Michigan | Berry Events Center • Marquette, Michigan | FloHockey | Stein | L 3–8 | 3,779 | 12–16–4 (9–12–3) |
| February 24 | 7:07 PM | Lake Superior State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,904 | 12–17–4 (9–13–3) |
| February 25 | 5:07 PM | Lake Superior State | Ewigleben Arena • Big Rapids, Michigan | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–4 | 2,398 | 12–18–4 (9–14–3) |
| CCHA Tournament ||||||||||
| March 3 | 7:07 PM | at Bowling Green* | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio (Quarterfinal Game 1) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 4–3 $^{OT}$ | 1,686 | 13–18–4 |
| March 4 | 7:07 PM | at Bowling Green* | Slater Family Ice Arena • Bowling Green, Ohio (Quarterfinal Game 2) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | W 2–1 $^{OT}$ | 1,638 | 14–18–4 |
| March 11 | 7:07 PM | at #13 Minnesota State* | Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center • Mankato, Minnesota (Semifinal) | FloHockey | Giesbrecht | L 2–7 | 4,468 | 14–19–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Eastern Time. Source: ||||||||||

## Scoring statistics

| Name | Position | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| Jason Brancheau | F | 35 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 14 |
| Štěpán Pokorný | F | 36 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 33 |
| Bradley Marek | F | 37 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 12 |
| Brenden MacLaren | F | 36 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 18 |
| Tyler Schleppe | F | 36 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 14 |
| Antonio Venuto | RW | 35 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 14 |
| Blake Evennou | D | 36 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 18 |
| Connor McGrath | C | 33 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 14 |
| Mitchel Deelstra | LW | 35 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 47 |
| Travis Shoudy | RW | 34 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 16 |
| Matt Slick | F | 34 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 17 |
| Nick Nardecchia | RW | 36 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 27 |
| Drew Cooper | D | 33 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
| Caiden Gault | F | 20 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 12 |
| Jacob Dirks | F | 24 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| Ben Schultheis | D | 34 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
| Dallas Tulik | F | 19 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 |
| Andrew Noel | D | 22 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
| Cade Kowalski | C/RW | 20 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Luke Farthing | D | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 25 |
| Kaleb Ergang | RW | 19 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| Zach Faremouth | F | 27 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
| Jacob Badal | LW | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Noah Giesbrecht | G | 28 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Austin McCarthy | F | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Joey Henson | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brenden Rons | D | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan Stein | G | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | | | 92 | 148 | 240 | 411 |

## Goaltending statistics

| Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| Noah Giesbrecht | 33 | 1560:27 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 80 | 775 | 0 | .906 | 3.08 |
| Logan Stein | 18 | 697:13 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 45 | 327 | 0 | .879 | 3.87 |
| Empty Net | - | 6:57 | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 37 | 2264:37 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 131 | 1102 | 0 | .894 | 3.47 |

## 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 | 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 | 27 (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 Today | 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 | NR | NR |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in weeks 1, 13, or 26.