Wednesday, September 30, 2009

HOCKEY: Ferris Picked Eighth By Coaches, Ninth By Media

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University is going to have to work for everything it gets this season on the ice and it is going to have to work from the bottom up.

The Bulldogs were picked to finish eighth in the Coaches Poll with 50 points and was tabbed ninth in the Media Poll with 314 points. Really, this is not a big surprise for Ferris which has traditionally been picked right around the same area in these preseason polls (polls which are anything but an exact science). So, it may be disappointing, but it can hardly be considered a shock to see Ferris picked where it was in a conference that is fairly top heavy with Michigan, Notre Dame, Miami, Ohio State and others expected to rank among the nation's best. And, there always seems to be some school that emerges unexpectedly to do great things.

Last winter, Ferris finished 12-19-7 overall and placed ninth in the league with a record of 9-14-5 against its CCHA rivals. Ferris, however, hopes to improve on that mark on the strength of a roster that boasts 21 letterwinners back in the crimson and gold, including Aaron Lewicki (pictured).

Ferris hits the ice in an exhibition contest on Sunday afternoon as it hosts Wilfred Laurier (Ontario) at Ewigleben Ice Arena. The puck drops at 2:05 p.m.

The regular season begins with a two-game non-league road trip to New York to take on Canisius in Buffalo. Both games are slated to start at 7:05 p.m. from the Buffalo State Sports Arena.

COACHES POLL

Rank School (First-Place Votes) Points
1 Michigan (5) 114
2 Notre Dame (4) 111
3 Miami (2) 104
4 Ohio State 90
5 Northern Michigan (1) 85
6 Nebraska-Omaha 63
7 Alaska 61
8 Ferris State 50
9 Michigan State 46
10 Lake Superior State 29
11 Western Michigan 28
12 Bowling Green 11

MEDIA POLL

Rank School (First Place Votes) Points
1 Michigan (24) 731
2 Notre Dame (20) 712
3 Miami (20) 707
4 Ohio State (1) 547
5 Northern Michigan 502
6 Alaska 386
7 Nebraska-Omaha 377
8 Michigan State (1) 332
9 Ferris State 314
10 Western Michigan 256
11 Lake Superior 189
12 Bowling Green 95

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