Friday, November 13, 2009

HOCKEY: Miami Blogger Not Impressed With Ferris' Early Schedule

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University is off to a 6-0 start at home this season and is 7-3 overall heading into this weekend's two-game ice hockey series at top-ranked Miami University.

While the Bulldogs have a solid record, the level of competition is not too impressive to blogger John Lachmann, who writes for Cincinnati Sports Journalism.

Here is part of what Lachmann wrote:

Forwards Blair Riley and Aaron Lewicki are tied for the Bulldogs' team lead in points with eight. Riley has a team-high six goals.

Other contributing forwards are senior right wing Cody Chupp (one goal, six assists), sophomore Derek Graham (one goal, six assists), and freshman Travis Ouellette (five goals, one assist).

Junior Zach Redmond is the Bulldogs' top defenseman scorer with a goal and six assists. Sophomores Chad Billins and Brett Wysopal have six points each on Ferris State's blueline.

Ferris State definitely has balanced scoring. Although its top scorers have eight points, 14 Buldogs have four or more points.

Yes, the Bulldogs are 7-3, but they have faced a pretty weak schedule to this point. Ferris State has sweeps vs. Connecicut, Robert Morris and Bowling Green. Ferris State was swept at Alaska and split at Canisius in its only four road games, giving the Bulldogs a 1-3 record away from Big Rapids.

Miami, which has won four straight games, will probably start sophomore Connor Knapp in goal on Saturday. We'll see if sophomore defenseman Matt Tomassoni and senior forward Gary Steffes return to the lineup after being benched for both games last weekend.
There is little question Ferris has not played the strongest schedule, but this weekend will be a nice test for the Bulldogs (as was their two-game series at Alaska).

It will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs respond to this strong road competition on the ice. So far, Ferris has been tough at home, but now must prove it can win on the road.

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