The Miami RedHawks and the Ferris State Bulldogs are set to face off in a season-opening series on October 3rd and 4th at Miami University's Steve "Coach" Cady Arena. This will be the fifth consecutive year that these two programs have started their seasons against each other.
Miami RedHawks Outlook
Miami is coming off a tough 2024-25 season, finishing with a 3-28-3 record. Head coach Anthony Noreen is entering his second season with the RedHawks and has emphasized a significant overhaul of the roster. Expectations around the fan base remain low, and understandably so. Miami did not win a single NCHC conference game last season and last earned a victory nearly a year ago, on Oct. 26, 2024, against Lindenwood.
Noreen has brought in a large group of new players, including 12 freshmen and seven transfers. Only seven players return from last season: graduate Nick Donato, seniors Blake Mesenburg and Brayden Morrison, and sophomores Michael Quinn, Casper Nassen, John Emmons, and David Grosek. The team will carry 28 players. According to Noreen, 18 players have held leadership roles before, whether in junior or at the college level. The team's ages range from 17-year-old Ilia Morozov to 25-year-old Owen Lalonde.
The RedHawks' biggest question mark remains in net. The team has three young goalies: sophmore Matteo Drobac, and freshmen Shika Gadzhiev and Benji Motew. Gadzhiev is considered the frontrunner for the starting job.
One player to watch is freshman forward Ilia Morozov, who is projected as a potential NHL Draft pick. Morozov is a strong passer and a true 200-foot player who plays a sound defensive game.
Ferris State Bulldogs Outlook
Ferris State is entering its first season under new head coach Brett Riley, who replaced the long-tenured Bob Daniels. Riley, who came to FSU from Long Island University, brought in 13 new players, including many transfers, to fit into his 30-man roster.
Riley completed his coaching staff with the additions of associate coach Zack Cisek and assistant coaches Justin DeMartino and Gehrig Sarosy.
Key returning players for Ferris State include senior forwards Connor McGrath and Tyler Schleppe, and junior forward Emerson Goode. Senior forward Gavin Best was named team captain, with senior forwards Tyler Schleppe and Josh Zary, and graduate senior defenseman Nic Belpedio as alternates. It's not clear yet which of the four goalies – Mason West, Hobie Hedquist, Noah Rupprecht and Martin Lundberg -- will be the starter.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2024-25 season where they went 13-20-3, losing in the CCHA Mason Cup quarterfinals to St. Thomas.
Series History and Expectations
Ferris State and Miami have opened the season against each other every year since the 2021-22 season. Since then, Ferris State is 3-2-3 in the series, with many games going into overtime and three going into shootouts. Last season, both games ended in a tie as they went to an overtime shootout, which Ferris State won both times.
Riley said that Miami “has an entirely new hockey team,” and that "Being on the road against an NCHC team is no easy feat." Noreen described Miami's conditioning level as extremely impressive, calling it “elite for this level of hockey”.
With both teams featuring many new faces, this series should provide an early glimpse into how these programs are developing under their new coaches.
