Ministers of defense

The Bulldogs may have an issue scoring goals early in the season as their endless combinations of forward lines get acquainted.

What Ferris State should not have is an issue preventing them.

The defensive players are so highly skilled that head coach Bob Daniels put sophomore defensemen Brandon Anselmini at forward against St. Lawrence.

There may be an issue getting all of the guys in the rotation. The Bulldogs have nine defensemen on the roster, and they all are college hockey ready. Daniels has dressed freshmen defenseman Ryan Lowney multiple times and is showing a lot of faith in him by pairing him with junior Jason Binkley.

“It’s definitely something to get used to,” Lowney said. “It seems to get better as the games go on. It’s awesome; he’s got a lot of experience.”

Following a solid freshman campaign, Zach Dorer has come to expect more responsibility and playing time.

“I’ve been pairing with Connor Schmidt, he and I work pretty well together,” Dorer said. “We all work together really well. [Schmidt] is a little more offensive and I’m more defensive.”

The defensive staff will stand out for lots of turnover with very few adjustment issues throughout the season. All nine of the defensemen have played.

Only sophomore Brandon Anselmini, juniors Simon Denis and Jason Binkley and senior captain Scott Czarnowczan have played all five games so far.

The Bulldogs have built a formidable defensive fortress in front of the Ferris goaltending group and will ride that for much of the season.