HOCKEY: Bulldogs Ranked 36th By Inside College Hockey Web Site

Ferris State forward Andy Huff is tripped up on the ice during the Bulldogs' exhibition contest against Ontario Institute of Technology. (FSU Photographic Services/Ed Hyde)

The start of the 2010-11 season is just around the corner as Ferris State University departed for Huntsville, Ala. to take on the University of Alabama-Huntsville in a two-game series to get things started.

Inside College Hockey has the Bulldogs ranked 36th in its Power Rankings (Oct. 4).

Here is what INCH has written about head coach Bob Daniels' Ferris squad as it prepares to open the regular season on the road with a pair of non-conference games in Alabama:

A stick salute to the Bulldogs for being one of the five teams willing to make the trip to Alabama-Huntsville this season. The hockey gods reward Ferris with a favorable first-half schedule. Following the UAH foray, the Bulldogs play 12 of their next 17 at home.

Indeed, if the Bulldogs can perform well on the road in this opener then the stage could be set for better things down the line.

Ferris finished 21-13-6 last season, advanced to Joe Louis Arena and just missed out on a big to the NCAA Tournament (it would have been the first for the Bulldogs since the historic 2002-03 team, led by Chris Kunitz, put together a storybook campaign).

And, yes, it is a great move by the Bulldogs to travel to UAH. It's good for the health of college hockey. As INCH suggests, it is a great gesture by Ferris and others who are doing likewise.