GAME THREE! Ferris State Hockey Aims To Knock Off Minnesota State In Deciding Game Three Sunday Night

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team will square off against top-seeded Minnesota State in the deciding game three of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) First-Round Playoff series on Sunday (March 8) night in Mankato, Minn.

The eighth-seeded Bulldogs forced the third game of the quarterfinal-round series at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center with a 2-1 overtime triumph on Saturday evening in game two. The win came following a 5-1 victory by the host Mavericks in Friday's opening game of the best-of-three series.

Sunday's third and final game of the opening round is slated for a 6:07 p.m. (ET) puck drop with the winner advancing to next week's CCHA Mason Cup Playoff Semifinals.

The game will be aired live by local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network on Sunday night with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. (ET). The Voice of Ferris State Hockey, Brody Keiser, will be on the call and joined by Tim Blashill. A free live online audio broadcast is available at FerrisStateBulldogs.com.

In addition, all CCHA Mason Cup Playoff games will be streamed live via CCHA TV on a pay-per-view basis on MidCo Sports Plus.

The 2026 CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs began on Friday with the top four teams hosting a best-of-three, quarterfinal round series to start the CCHA Playoffs. From there, the two highest remaining seeds will host a single elimination semifinal game on Saturday, March 14. The tournament concludes with the single-game, 2026 CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs Championship, held at the home venue of the top remaining seed on Friday, March 20. The winner of the Mason Cup Championship will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey tournament with a goal to win a National Championship.

The famed Mason Cup is named after legendary Lake Superior State, Bowling Green State and Michigan State coach Ron Mason, whose name appeared on the trophy a league-high 13 times. Mason was instrumental in the establishment and success of the CCHA, helping it to grow into one of the most powerful college hockey conferences of all-time. The Mason Cup was first awarded 22 years ago in 2002 and is widely recognized as one of the most prized trophies in all of hockey.

This year represents the Bulldogs' 27th postseason playoff appearance in the past 29 years, including the fifth-straight appearance in the new CCHA. It also marks Ferris State's 42nd trip to the postseason in program history. FSU has advanced past the quarterfinal round in four of its previous 10 postseason appearances, including winning the program's first-ever conference postseason crown in 2016.

Since 2012, the Bulldogs have made three NCAA Tournament appearances and advanced to the NCAA Final Eight all three times. FSU has also won two conference regular-season championships along with capturing the WCHA's Broadmoor Trophy once as the league's Final Five Champion. Along with a Frozen Four berth and national title game showing in 2012, FSU also has reached the regional final and the final eight of the NCAA Tournament in both 2014 and 2016.

The Bulldogs, who are guided by first-year head coach Brett Riley, have played their best hockey over the final month of the season, recording three wins to go with a shootout victory and a shootout loss in their last six regular-season outings entering the CCHA Playoffs.

Sunday's contest will mark the Bulldogs' first winner-take-all playoff game three since 2013.