The announcement of the 2023 team captains and a surprise visit from Detroit Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde were made to the Ferris State hockey team today.
Lalonde assisted in leading the Ferris State Bulldogs to their first-ever CCHA conference championship in 2003 while serving as an assistant coach for the team from 2002 to 2006.
I had a great time while I was here. I gained knowledge on two fronts: first, how to treat others with respect.
Lalonde addressed the group, saying, I witnessed what it’s about and how to actually care about someone. The second lesson I took away from this experience was how to succeed. I have never before won something like this.
Stepan Pokorny, Nick Hale, Jason Brancheau, and Brenden MacLaren were named captains by Lalonde.
Brenden MacLaren, a senior, will don the captain’s patch for the following year. Prior to Ferris, Stepan Pokorny had already met Lalonde while going through the hiring process.
This place has culture, he remarked. Here, a culture has been developed over many years.
When they hire someone, it’s the ideal candidate who fits this identity perfectly. I believe that guys will remember their time spent here. That, in my opinion, says a lot about why their alumni network is so robust and fervent.
Lalonde also mentioned how he still makes an effort to stay in touch with the team.
You’d be amazed to hear that I have two kids that play minor league hockey,” Lalonde remarked.
The odd thing about Ferris State is that, at the time, I wasn’t the family’s finest coach. Back in the day, my wife was the soccer coach here. Thus, Ferris State runs in our family.
Daniels announced the captains for the second time under the current Red Wings head coach.
The squad captains were announced via Zoom a few years ago by Jeff Breakhill, the head coach at the time and a former assistant at Ferris State.
We’re quite fortunate that so many of our former students continue to play hockey, Daniels remarked.
Trevor Large addressed our team during our game at Canisius, and there’s also Seth Appert of the Rochester Americans in the AHL. The fact that they’re all willing to do it is just lovely.
