Feb. 19, 2025
Ferris State honoring legendary coach with ‘Bob Daniels Weekend’ during final regular-season home series
The Ferris State University hockey program and Ferris State University Athletics will honor a college hockey legend as the Bulldogs celebrate "Bob Daniels Weekend" in recognition of the retiring head coach during the final two regular-season home matchups of the season.
Ferris State will host the Northern Michigan University Wildcats in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association series next week and the puck is set to drop at 7:07 p.m. for the opener on Friday, Feb. 28 with the finale on Saturday, March 1 at 6:07 p.m. in the Ewigleben Ice Arena, 210 Sports Drive.
Daniels recently announced his retirement effective at the end of the current 2024-25 campaign. Now in his 33rd season as the program's head coach, Daniels has been part of the Ferris State staff for 36 seasons and ranks as one of college hockey's most legendary figures. He's compiled more than 500 career wins and ranks among the top six winningest active head coaches on the Division I level.
"Coach Daniels is an iconic figure in the hockey world and has been a huge ambassador for the sport and Ferris State University," Athletics Director Steve Brockelbank said. "He has invested so much over the last 36 years to both Bulldog Hockey and the Big Rapids community. We are grateful for all he has done and the countless lives he has impacted along the way. We celebrate all his accomplishments and thank him for his extraordinary efforts."
Daniels won his 500th game at the Bulldog helm earlier this season and has led the Bulldogs to all four NCAA Tournament appearances in school history, including a historic trip to the 2012 NCAA Division I Frozen Four and a berth in the national championship game. The Bulldogs also reached the final eight of the national tournament and were within a game of the Frozen Four in 2003, 2014 and 2016.
The Bulldogs will distribute commemorative “Bob Daniels final home game” posters to the first 1,500 fans on Saturday with a ceremonial retirement presentation on the ice for both Daniels and longtime assistant coaches Drew Famulak, Mark Kaufman and Dave Cencer.
Along with the on-ice presentation, tribute messages from key Bulldog Hockey alumni figures and friends will also air on the arena video boards throughout the weekend and on social media, paying tribute to one of the sport's icons.
The Saturday night game will serve as Ferris State’s annual Senior Night contest with the Bulldogs paying tribute to seven student-athletes prior to the contest with a recognition ceremony inside Jim Wink Arena following the game.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early with the Senior Day events slated to begin approximately 20 minutes prior to game time.
This year marks the Bulldogs' 50th season of college hockey and 47th campaign at the NCAA Division I level. Daniels has been involved in the program for 36 of those years, first serving as a Bulldog assistant coach from 1989-92 prior to being appointed as the school's fifth head coach in program history.
Along with serving as Ferris State's head coach, Daniels and his family have been highly active in the local community and involved in numerous charitable endeavors over the course of his career while supporting local youth hockey and skating activities.
Daniels' coaching staff ranks among the most tenured in all of college hockey as Associate head coach Drew Famulak has been by his side for the past 32 years. Fellow assistant Mark Kaufman is currently in his 21st season at FSU over two different stints while assistant coach Dave Cencer has been with the program for the past 19 years.
Having the longest personal tenure of any FSU head coach in school history, regardless of sport, Daniels has coached 10 All-Americans during his coaching career at Ferris, including 2002-03 Hobey Baker Hat Trick Award national finalist and four-time Stanley Cup Champion Chris Kunitz.
Hundreds of his former players have gone on to enjoy success on the professional and international levels in various leagues around the globe, including the National Hockey League, and he's mentored countless others who have gone on to achieve coaching success, such as notable NHL names Jeff Blashill, Derek Lalonde, Seth Appert and John Gruden among others.
Prior to the final two regular-season games of his head coaching career, the Bulldogs will first visit Michigan Tech University on Feb. 21-22 for a pivotal CCHA road series.
The Bulldogs are seventh in the league in winning percentage and have the fourth-most league victories in conference play overall this year. The top eight teams at the end of the regular-season will advance to the CCHA Playoffs with the top four earning first-round home matchups.
Tickets for the final two home contests next week are on sale now at FerrisStateBulldogs.com/Tickets and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance with potential large crowds expected for Daniels' final two home games in his storied career.