Headed to Nationals: Men’s ice hockey qualifies for the ACHA National Tournament

The University of Michigan-Dearborn men’s ice hockey team has qualified for the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) National Tournament. UM-Dearborn finished the season ranked No. 13 nationally and will face off against No. 20 Navy on Thursday, March 3, at 8 p.m. CST. The winner will face No. 4 Central Oklahoma on Friday, March 4, at 8 p.m. CST.

The team finished the regular season with an 18-4-4 record, including two wins over Navy to start the season (7-1 and 7-4). The Wolverines are led by sophomore goalie Nate Ferris, who went 16-2 this season and posted a 2.20 goals against average and .916 save percentage. Offensively, the team will look to sophomores Jeff McFarland and Ryan Urso—each player has posted 33 points this season, with McFarland scoring 16 goals. Freshman Tyler Groat leads the team with 37 points, but has out been since January with an injury.

The Wolverines last qualified for the ACHA National Tournament in 2007. The tournament is being held at the Edge Ice Arena in Bensonville, Ill., March 3-8.

The good news continued to roll in over the weekend as the team defeated Davenport University Sunday, 3-2 in overtime, to win the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League Tournament. Ferris made 105 saves on 111 shots for the weekend and was named tournament MVP.