Two of Michigan’s four CCHA programs open conference play against each other this weekend, when Michigan Tech visits Ferris State for a two-game series Friday and Saturday at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids. The teams arrive from opposite directions: the Huskies are 5-1-0, ranked No. 11 in the USCHO poll, and have won two straight, while the Bulldogs are 0-3-1 and still looking for their first win.
Michigan Tech
Tech has been one of the better nonconference stories in the CCHA. The Huskies opened with a home sweep of then-No. 14 Minnesota, 3-2 and 3-1, split at St. Cloud State, and then swept Alaska 3-0 and 4-2 on Hall of Fame weekend in Houghton. Junior goaltender Owen Bartoszkiewicz, who leads the CCHA with five wins and carries a .942 save percentage, and sophomore defenseman Luke Shipley, who scored the tying and winning goals in the Alaska finale, earned the league’s weekly goaltender and defenseman awards on Monday. This is Tech’s first road trip since St. Cloud; the Huskies are 1-1-0 away from home.
Ferris State
Ferris has not played since Oct. 9 and comes off a two-week break after a hard opening stretch. The Bulldogs lost 4-0 and tied 5-5 at Canisius, then dropped a home-and-home to Western Michigan, 6-0 in Kalamazoo and 5-1 in Big Rapids. They have scored six goals in four games, so the extra practice time and a return home are the main things working in their favor this weekend. The two teams meet again Jan. 15-16 in Houghton.
Schedule and how to watch
- Friday, Oct. 23: Michigan Tech at Ferris State, 7:07 p.m., Ewigleben Ice Arena
- Saturday, Oct. 24: Michigan Tech at Ferris State, Ewigleben Ice Arena. Michigan Tech lists a 7:07 p.m. start and College Hockey Inc. lists 6:07 p.m., so check the team sites before heading out.
- Stream: Midco Sports Plus. Radio: Mix 93.5 WKMJ (Michigan Tech).
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