When asked if his current 11-game point streak had anything to do with the Bulldogs current success senior Bulldog defenseman Chad Billins modestly replied not at all; instead the team is successful because of their depth Billins said.
“Getting scoring from all from all four lines has definitely helped our team and just shows how deep our roster is night in and night out,” Billins said.
Billins is a Michigan native who is majoring in Marketing with a concentration in sports. He first began skating when he was three years old and started playing organized hockey when he was six. Billins began playing hockey because his father played the sport.
When Billins first touched the ice, he was not met with instant success. Like many who first begin skating, Billins was nowhere near graceful. In fact, Billins fell on his butt before he even met the ice.
“He [Jason Billins, Chad’s Father] put me in skates and thought that I would never skate when I first put them on,” Billins said while laughing.
Billins played forward until he was about 13 years old. He decided he wanted to be on the ice a bit more during games and when you play forward, you’re only on the ice for as long as your line is, so Billins began playing defense. Billins wanted to be on the ice more because he wanted to play as many minutes as possible growing up.
Now, Billins is the third-best overall offensive defenseman in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Billins has tallied 28 points (7G, 21A) this year with the Bulldogs. Billins attributed his success to the Bulldogs current success.
“When different players are scoring every night, it’s nice to have everyone contributing. I haven’t tried to do anything different, just focus more on my defensive part of my game which then transfers to offense,” Billins said. “Everyone on this team is really close and that’s what makes this Ferris hockey program so special.”
Billins is a co-captain for the Bulldogs. He is expected to help lead the Bulldogs, along with the other seven seniors on the Ferris hockey team.
“He’s a vocal leader in the dressing room, but the biggest thing about Chad is his ability to lead on the ice,” senior Ferris netminder Taylor Nelson said.
Billins wants to share an outright CCHA Championship with the Bulldog’s fans and his teammates. He could not be happier with the way the team has played.
“This is a surreal situation. Getting the number one ranking in the nation hasn’t yet set in for me,” Billins said. “It’s a really special time for everyone.”