The Miami Redhawks (NCHC) starts with their 2025-26 campaign and organizes the Ferris State Bulldogs (CCHA) On Friday at 7:05 PM et and then again Saturday at 6:05 PM et in Steve “Coach” Cady Arena. This marks the fifth consecutive season opening series between the two programs. Last season Miami traveled to Big Rapids, Michigan, where both games went to a shootout. Ferris State came in both at the top.
Related: Miami Redhawks’ seasonal proceeds 2025-26 with head coach Anthony Noreen
Head coach Anthony Noreen described Miami’s conditioning level as extremely impressive and called the “elite for this level of hockey”. Their death has looked cleaner, the pace noticeably faster, and it is clear that the players in the system buy that Noreen emphasizes. The team seems to be well yellings, and the handshake line after practice has been a small but meaningful sign of the culture that is being built. Now that basis is put to the test when the puck drops and real game action starts tonight.
A parent and adult team is coming to the city this weekend, which means that the Redhawks have a tough challenge. With that in mind, here is a look at both schedules and their transformations during the low season.
Redhawks vs. Ferris rosters
The schedule of Redhawks comprises 28 players under the new rules: 16 attackers, nine defenders and three goalkeepers. The group also plays ahead 12 First -year And seven transfersWhile seven players returned from last season. A schedule reset was needed after the results of last season (3-28-3), and the competitive level of this new team has been discussed so far.
Noreen was deliberately about bringing in a wide range of experience and leadership. Have eighteen players Kept leadership roles earlierWhether it is in junior or at university level, and the ages vary from 17-year-old Ilia Morozov to 25-year-old Owen Lalonde, who will soon be 26.
The schedule of Ferris State consists of 30 players, with 13 newcomers and 17 returners. They are led by first-year head coach Brett Riley, who took over after the 33-year-old Run by Bob Daniels ended last season. The bulldogs ended 13-20-3 last season and were swept in the first round of the Cock Mason Cup Playoffs by Future NCHC program St. Thomas.
Riley joined Ferris State after having spent five seasons as head coach at Long Island University (LIU) and brought five players: Forwards Carter Rapalje, Riley Wallack and Josh Zary, defender Valtteri Pioiron and Dower Donteder Noah Ruppprecht. All 13 new players arrived via the transfer portal. Although there are no real first -year students, three players arrive as a Redshirt first -year students. The average age of the team is 22.26, making it one of the older line -ups in college hockey this season.
Bulldogs to watch
Gavin stands out best under the recurring Bulldogs. He was one of the best attackers for Ferris State last season and scored 19 points in 36 games, ranked in fourth place in the team. Now a senior, he is an adult player and was named Captain for this season. Tyler Schleppe is a heavy, physical attacker at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds. He scored 18 points last season and will serve as an assistant captain. Logan Heroux is a second -year defender who contributed 14 points last season (three goals and 11 assists) and the leading scorer was in the defensive core.
Among the newcomers, John Lundy is a senior attacker who has switched from the American International College (AIC). He placed 42 points for three seasons and brings a strong net front presence. Zary is a senior attacker known for his Elite Faceoff skills. He achieved 68 points in 92 games at Liu and was appointed assistant captain. Junior Forward Rapalje is quickly and quickly with the Puck. He led Liu last season with 30 points and is an important presence of power play. Senior defender Pioirones is a 6-foot-4, 208 pound defender who skates well for his size, blocks shots and kills punishments. He made 11 assists at Liu last season.
In the goal, Hobie Hedquist comes from North Dakota and the fight is tested in the NCHC. He did not play in the December series in Oxford last season, but went over to get a better chance in the role of a starter. He is athletic at 6-foot-2 and placed a 2.80 goals-to-average (GAA) and .894 save percentage (SV%) last season.
He is likely to be in a goalkeeper fight with Noah Ruppprecht, a junior soothing that is smaller on 5-foot-11 but very athletic. Rupprecht has a 17-7-0 college record for two seasons, with a 2.33 GAA EN .901 SV% last season at Liu. I would expect that one, if not both, will play this weekend.
Redhawks to watch
Casper Nassen has lost weight under the recurring Redhawks and looks faster. His heavy stalk shot is still a weapon, and he will probably be on the upper or second power play unit. Michael Quinn has also become bigger and stronger, and both he and nasses have benefited from training sessions outside season. John Emmons is a second -year student who is impressed by his defensive match and killing in the sentence. He added some attacking flashes in the preseason and was a fixed value in the Line -up last season, despite the start of the season low on the depth card.
For newcomers, first-year attacker Kocha Delic was noticed as one of the most dynamic puck handlers in the team. He is shifty, creative and may have the best wrist shot on the Roster. He will be an important piece in the top six and on the Power Play.
First -year student David Deputy brings a different kind of energy to this program. It is smaller, on 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, but is lightning fast, with an elite one-timer and a strong offensive playing play. He is not afraid to lay the body and last season had a striking United States Hockey League (USHL) Playoff-Run, where he scored three Power-Play Goals and 10 goals in total more than 14 games.
Junior attacker Matteo Giampa is another exciting addition, who has transferred this season out of season. He is a fast skater with the puck, drives fast in the direction of the net and can be a top -power play option.
First -year attacker Ilia Morozov is one of the strongest players in the team, just 17 years old. He is the youngest player in university hockey and is impressed during the preseason. Morozov plays a full game of 200 feet and started with more offensive benefit. His size and reach make him effective in the Faceoff circle, and he uses his frame well in battles. Noreen praised his adulthood and work ethics and said that he has set the time to build athletics and physical tools that he brings on the ice. Morozov can very well be a NHL-Pick-Pick from 2026 and is definitely one to view this weekend.
Ryder Thompson brings a much needed stable, quiet presence at the back. He is quickly in Pucks, protects them well along the shelves and shows every team a complete effort. He was part of an Elite Portland Winterhawks team last season and knows how to compete.
In the goal, first -year Shika Gadzhiev is supposed to be the leader for the runway. He won the Ushl Clark Cup in Muskegon last season and is super athletic with a sharp glove, standing at 6-foot-2. Sophomore Matteo Drobac is another athletic goalkeeper who closes the five-hole well and has a solid blocker. Between Drobac, Gadzhiev and Benji Motow could all see time this weekend while the Redhawks sort out their rotation.
That said, the entire weekend expects some changes and shuffling while Noreen adapts to real -time and selecting combinations/combinations in live situations.
Noreen on Ferris State
When I spoke to Noreen last week, he didn’t say much about Ferris State, but he made sure that he emphasized the respect he has for their new staff and how quickly they upgraded their selection.
“We have a lot of respect for the new coaching staff there. I think they did great in short order of upgrading their team drastically through the transfer portal. I think it will be one of the, if not, one of the best teams in that conference for sure. And again, I think they will be an excellent team.”
Also worth mentioning, the former Miami assistant -coach Zack Cisek joined the Bulldogs staff after three years at the Bulldogs staff after three years at the Redhawks. Former Redhawk striker Max Dukovac also returns to Oxford after switching to Ferris State this low season. He placed 10 points in 25 games last season.
Keys to success for Miami
Miami will have to play physically, hard and quickly against a parent and larger Ferris State team that is built to play that way. The bulldogs have a tough, heavy defensive core and forward group, so matching their intensity will be important. For the Redhawks, finding chemistry in a brand new line-up will be one of their biggest challenges.
Limiting expensive turnover is a “must”. Last season, Giveaways teased the program and led to far too much strange man against it. Cleaning up that will go a long way to keep games manageable. Special teams will also be an important factor. Miami struggled in that area last season and ended with a 77% Penalty Kill and a Power Play of 16.5%. Avoiding unnecessary penalties and the early rolling of the Power Play will be the key. With a few new weapons on the Roster there will be opportunities and the Redhawks must use it.
This may not be the only time that the Redhawks are opposed to the Bulldogs this season, because both teams participate in the Great Lakes Invitational (GLI) on December 29-30. Ferris State will play Michigan State in one semi -final, while Miami absorbs Michigan Tech in the other. Depending on how the results take place, a third meeting between Miami and Ferris State could be in the maps in December.
Follow the entire weekend for live game updates and post-game comments on my twitter: @Mbuhrmann61
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