Preseason Power Rankings: No. 57 Ferris State
Plus: Alaska hires an assistant, Dan Bartholomae’s buyout at Western, and more
Opening Faceoff
We begin today’s newsletter with a breakdown of the Ferris State Bulldogs as the latest installment in my preseason power rankings.
Ferris State has an incredible number of new faces joining the roster this season. That might not lead to an immediate payoff, but this year’s team could provide the foundation for success in 2027-28 and beyond if the Bulldogs can develop and retain what looks like a deep and promising freshman class.
You can keep up with all of my preseason power rankings and team previews using the link below:
Also in today’s newsletter:
— Michigan State is on the hook for a $5.1 million buyout to Western Michigan following the hiring of athletic director Dan Bartholomae. The payment is due within 60 days.
— Alaska has hired a new assistant coach, and Colorado College has secured a jersey patch sponsor for the 2026-27 season.
Preseason Power Rankings: No. 57 Ferris State
Storylines
— Brett Riley enters his second season behind the Ferris State bench. The Bulldogs went 8-27-2 last season and have completely reshaped their roster heading into Year 2 under Riley.
Ferris State added eight transfers, and I have as many as 10 freshmen projected to make an immediate impact. That’s potentially 18 new faces in the lineup on a nightly basis. Largely due to the size of the class, Neutral Zone currently has Ferris State’s recruiting class ranked No. 15 in the country.
— Transfer defenseman Luke Coughlin (Maine) and transfer forward Owen Mehlenbacher (UMass) both attended NHL development camps this summer.
Coughlin, a Florida Panthers draft pick, attended Florida’s development camp, while Mehlenbacher, a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, participated in Detroit’s camp.
— Ferris State’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule includes road series at Canisius and Michigan, along with a trip to the Empire State Holiday Classic at UBS Arena on Long Island.
The Bulldogs will also play a home-and-home series against Western Michigan in October and host Maryville for an exhibition game.
