Bulldog Hockey Releases Full 2026-27 Schedule
Click Here For 2026-27 Schedule
Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team and Head Coach Brett Riley have announced the Bulldogs' full schedule for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
The announcement includes dates and opponents for the non-league schedule, following an earlier release that detailed FSU's Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) schedule. In total, Ferris State will play 35 games throughout the campaign, including 34 regular season games and one exhibition contest.
The Bulldogs will embark on their 48th season of NCAA Division I hockey in 2026-27 and the second under Riley. FSU will play a total of 16 home games in the Ewigleben Ice Arena, including its lone exhibition contest.
Ferris State begins the 2026-27 slate Oct. 2-3 with a road series at Canisius. The Bulldogs will face the Griffins in Buffalo for the first time since the 2021-22 season when the two teams split a series at LECOM Harborcenter. Ferris State hosted Canisius during the 2022-23 campaign, splitting the series in Big Rapids.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Bulldogs will face Western Michigan University in a home-and-home series early in the season. FSU travels to Kalamazoo Oct. 8 for the Broncos' season opener. The following night, Oct. 9, will be Ferris State's home opener as the Broncos come to Big Rapids to wrap up non-conference play in October. WMU made the NCAA Tournament last year, defeating Ferris State's fellow CCHA member Minnesota State in the opening round before falling to eventual national champion Denver in the regional final.
Following a bye week, Ferris State will conclude the first month with four conference games beginning Oct. 23-24 when Michigan Tech comes to Big Rapids for a two-game set. Then, the Bulldogs close the month with a league series at Bemidji State Oct. 30-31.
Ferris State opens November with its lone exhibition contest of the 2026-27 slate against Maryville on Nov. 7. The Saints are set to compete at the Division I level for the first time this upcoming season and will make a trip to Big Rapids during their inaugural DI campaign.
The Bulldogs return to league play with a trip to Sioux Falls, S.D., to face the Augustana Vikings Nov. 13-14 before returning home for a series against Northern Michigan Nov. 20-21.
FSU will wrap up the month with a non-conference series against the University of Michigan Nov. 27-28 at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines made the Frozen Four last year, suffering a double overtime defeat in the national semifinals to Denver. It will be the first time Ferris State has faced Michigan since Dec. 30, 2019, when the Wolverines claimed a 4-1 win in the Great Lakes Invitational semifinal game.
In December, the Bulldogs will play two conference series', first with a home set against Lake State Dec. 4-5 and then a road series against Bowling Green Dec. 11-12 ahead of the holiday break.
Ferris State will once again compete in a holiday tournament as the Bulldogs are set to take part in the Empire State Holiday Invitational at UBS Arena Dec. 28-29. The tournament represents a new partnership between Long Island University, the New York Islanders and UBS Arena with LIU hosting the tournament at UBS Arena each of the next five years. The Bulldogs will participate in the first-ever event during the 2026-27 season, with the opponents and matchups to be determined. Stay tuned to ferrisstatebulldogs.com for complete tournament information as it becomes available.
The Bulldogs will play 14 regular season conference games across January and February. First, reigning MacNaughton and Mason Cup champion Minnesota State will come to the Ewigleben Ice Arena Jan. 8-9. Then, FSU will head to Houghton and face Michigan Tech Jan. 15-16 ahead of a bye week. The Dawgs will close January with another road trip to the Upper Peninsula Jan. 29-30 to face Northern Michigan in Marquette.
Ferris State begins February with back-to-back home series against Augustana and Bemidji State, respectively. The Vikings visit Big Rapids Feb. 5-6 with the Beavers in town Feb. 12-13.
FSU's final regular season road series will be against Lake Superior State Feb. 19-20. The Bulldogs are set to close the regular season at home against Bowling Green Feb. 26-27.
The quest for the Mason Cup begins with the CCHA Quarterfinals March 5-7 with the championship game slated for March 19. The tournament will be played on campus sites.
Stay tuned for ticket information coming soon.
Below is the complete 2026-27 Ferris State Hockey schedule (home games in bold):
Oct. 2-3 - @ Canisius
Oct. 8-9 - @ Western Michigan/vs Western Michigan
Oct. 23-24 – vs Michigan Tech
Oct. 30-31 - @ Bemidji State
Nov. 7 – vs Maryville (exhibition)
Nov. 13-14 - @ Augustana
Nov. 20-21 – vs Northern Michigan
Nov. 27-28 - @ Michigan
Dec. 4-5 – vs Lake State
Dec. 11-12 - @ Bowling Green
Dec. 28-29 - @ Empire State Holiday Invitational (UBS Arena)
Jan. 8-9 – vs Minnesota State
Jan. 15-16 - @ Michigan Tech
Jan. 29-30 - @ Northern Michigan
Feb. 5-6 – vs Augustana
Feb. 12-13 – vs Bemidji State
Feb. 19-20 - @ Lake State
Feb. 26-27 – vs Bowling Green
March 5-7 – CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals (Campus Sites)
March 13 – CCHA Mason Cup Semifinals (Campus Sites)
March 19 – CCHA Mason Cup Championship (Campus Sites)