Bob Daniels is celebrating his 20th season behind Ferris State’s bench by guiding the Bulldogs to their first No. 1 national ranking in school history.
The Bulldogs are unbeaten (9-0-3) since January and can clinch the CCHA regular season title with a sweep of last place Bowling Green in Big Rapids this weekend, coupled with a Western Michigan loss at Lake Superior State.
Ferris is No. 1 in the latest USCHO poll, followed by Boston University, Boston College, defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth and Michigan. The Bulldogs also sit atop the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll.
It is the highest ranking for the Bulldogs since a No. 4 spot in the USCHO poll during their CCHA regular season title nine years ago, led by league Player of the Year Chris Kunitz, a free-agent who scored 23 goals last season for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Bulldogs are getting the job done defensively, limiting opponents to 2.19 goals per game, led by senior goaltender Taylor Nelson (15-4-2, 2.18 goals-against, .923 save percentage) and freshman C.J. Motte (5-4-2, 1.97, .926).
Senior Jordie Johnston (16 goals) and junior Kyle Bonis (15 goals) are having strong seasons to lead the Bulldogs offensively.
Nelson was at his best this past weekend, turning aside 58 of 59 shots in a sweep (3-0, 5-1) of Notre Dame.
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