Hockey rebounds from four game skid amidst injuries
The Bulldogs were roughed up in the Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena on Dec. 28-29, and that slide followed them to Alaska.
2-1 and 6-0 losses to the NCAA-sanctioned Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks pushed the Dawgs below .500 on the season.
Fighting through a long road trip to both Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, the Bulldogs finally snapped the skid on their last stop.
4-1 and 3-2 victories over the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves ended the four game skid as Ferris returned home.
Senior forward Justin Buzzeo scored three goals in the series at Anchorage, and helped carry a team with just 18 healthy bodies, a roster minimum, not including the goaltenders.
Out of necessity due to injuries to junior forward Kenny Babinski, junior defenseman Zach Dorer, and freshman forward Zack Szajner, junior defenseman Simon Denis played three straight games at forward and scored a goal during that stretch.
Head coach Bob Daniels did confirm that Denis staying at forward was a possibility due to the injury pile up and the production Denis has provided on the top offensive line.
VanderLaan brings home Harlon Hill Trophy
Annually, the Harlon Hill trophy is awarded to Division II’s top football player as voted on by Sports Information Directors around the country.
This year, that player is a Bulldog. Junior quarterback Jason VanderLaan helped lead the Dawgs to an 11-0 regular season record, a GLIAC regular season title, and the NCAA playoffs. VanderLaan is the first winner of the Harlon Hill, which is Division II’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, in Ferris history.
VanderLaan is the seventh junior in the history of the award to receive the honor, and was a candidate for the second straight season.
VanderLaan is the only active quarterback in any division of college football with 50 career passing and 50 career rushing touchdowns.
The junior posted 30 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns during the 2014 season, while rushing for a team best 1,466 yards and passing fora career high 2,381 yards.
Stolicker shines as role grows in his third season.
Ferris State men’s basketball center Jared Stolicker has taken off in his third season as the team’s starting center.
Most recently, Stolicker was named as GLIAC Player of the Week after matching the school record for blocked shots with seven against Walsh University on January 10. He also lead the team with 21 points in that game.
He had six blocked shots in the previous game.
Stolicker’s built in advantage is his 6-10 frame. Though on the lean side, Stolicker’s timing has led to leading the team in rebounds as well as blocks.
Ferris next heads on an Upper Peninsula trip to Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan on January 15-17.