Ferris State returns to Grand Rapids this season for the second year in a row to play Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational on Thursday (Dec. 28). Last year, the Bulldogs topped the Spartans 4-2 and played Western Michigan for the GLI Championship. This year, the #7-ranked Spartans enter 12-4-2, while the Bulldogs wrapped up their first half of the season with a 5-11-1 record. Ferris State last took the ice against Lake Superior State Dec. 16 in a 5-1 loss before departing for the holiday break. Michigan State last played Dec. 9 in a 2-1 win over Notre Dame.

Ferris State and Michigan State will hit the ice on Thursday at 7 p.m. The third-place and championship games of the GLI are set for Friday (Dec. 29) at 3:30 and 7 p.m., respectively. All games in the GLI will be carried by FloSports and can be heard live on Sunny 97.3 FM or FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

 

On Deck for the Dawgs
Dec 29 - vs Opponent TBA, @ Great Lakes Invitational
Jan. 5 - vs Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m.
Jan. 6 - vs Bemidji State, 6:07 p.m.
Jan. 12 - @ Minnesota State, 8:07 p.m.
Jan. 13 - @ Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Jan. 19 - vs Lake State, 7:07 p.m.
Jan. 20 - @ Lake State, 6:07 p.m.

Scouting The Spartans
Michigan State will face-off against the Bulldogs for the second consecutive year at the GLI. The Spartans have been one of the best teams in college hockey this year, and are very solid all around. They are elite on special teams with a .278 power play percentage (6th nationally) and .831 mark on the penalty kill (T-23rd). Their shot percentage of 11.3 is a top-10 mark in college hockey, and they score 4.2 goals per game (3rd most). Defensively, MSU allows 3.1 goals per game, which is middle of the pack.

The Spartans struggle on the faceoff circle, winning 48.1% of faceoffs. They are a very young team, with 18 freshmen or sophomore skaters. At 21.2 years old on average, they are the fifth youngest team in the nation.

Trey Augustine leads the Spartans between the pipes with 11 wins this year while stopping 91.6% of shots faced and allowing fewer than three goals per game. Offensively, Isaac Howard has 20 points (15 assists) and each of Joey Larson, Karsen Dorwart and Artyom Levshunov have 19 points. Miami (Ohio) transfer Red Savage has 18 points on 12 helpers. Larson leads the squad with nine goals and four power play strikes.

All but two of the Spartan skaters have an on-ice mark of even or better, with Levshunov leading the way at +16.

Bulldogs Wrap Up The First Half
Ferris State closed the first half of their season with a 5-1 loss against Lake Superior State at home. Through 17 games, the Bulldogs have five wins, four of which have come in overtime. In overtime contests, they are 4-1-1 with a shootout victory over Western Michigan.

Logan Stein is having a terrific senior season with a .919 save percentage (T-13th) while allowing 2.64 goals per game. Antonio Venuto is one of the best goal scorers in the CCHA with 11 tallies this year (15 points). Travis Shoudy leads all conference blueliners in assists (14), and rookie Luigi Benincasa has 11 points with 10 helpers.

The Bulldog power play has converted eight times on 55 tries (.145), and they win 49.6% of their faceoffs. Zach Faremouth wins at nearly a 56% clip, the fifth best mark in the CCHA. Ferris State's penalty kill continues to be an area of emphasis, as they kill at a .677 clip.

FSU leads the conference in shots on goal per game (32.65), but their shots percentage is lowest in the CCHA (.07). The Dawgs are middle of the pack in penalties per game (4.06).