Three Bulldog hockey play­ers have signed con­tracts to play in the American Hockey League.

Seniors Cody Chupp, Matt Case and Blair Riley have inked short-term con­tracts with three dif­fer­ent American Hockey League teams.

Chupp, a two-time Bulldog cap­tain, signed an ama­teur try­out agree­ment (ATO) with the Texas Stars, the affil­i­ate for the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars, on March 26 and appeared in his first game the same night. The Stars are sec­ond in the West Division Standings in the AHL’s Western Conference, the same con­fer­ence as the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Chupp tied his career season-high and fin­ished third on the team with 30 points dur­ing the 2009–2010 sea­son. He tal­lied nine goals and career-best 21 assists for the Bulldogs. Chupp led the Bulldogs with a plus 13 effi­ciency rat­ing this season.

Case, the Bulldogs lone senior defense­man, signed an ATO with the Norfolk (Va.) Admirals, the affil­i­ate of the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Monday. Case tal­lied a career-best 17 points this sea­son. The Admirals are fourth in the East Division of the Eastern Conference.

Riley signed a con­tract with the Springfield Falcons and said will be with the team for the final five games of the reg­u­lar sea­son. Riley led Ferris with 38 points this sea­son, includ­ing a team-best 18 goals. For his career, Riley is 29th in goals, fifth in shots on goal, and 38th in points in Ferris hockey history.

Ferris head coach Bob Daniels said he is proud of the senior class and that they deserve all the credit for what the team accom­plished this sea­son. Daniels said it speaks vol­umes to this group that some of the play­ers that have signed with the American Hockey League, which is one step below the NHL.

“I’m not sur­prised at all,” said Daniels, “They are very good hockey play­ers and very deserv­ing of the opportunities.”

Birkam Health Center has reported a case of Tuberculosis in a Ferris State University stu­dent this week.

According to Birkam Health Center offi­cials, the uni­ver­sity was informed of the Tuberculosis (TB) diag­no­sis by a health depart­ment in another county. Director of Birkam Health and Counseling Center Dr. Paul Sullivan said he feels the chance of mul­ti­ple stu­dents becom­ing infected is minor.

(more…)