# Roots, Rinks, and Reunions: Inside Ferris State’s Historic First Alumni Game

**By Petra Nowak**  \nPublished August 3, 2026  \nUpdated September 9, 2026

> When 1,000 fans packed Ewigleben Ice Arena for Ferris State University's inaugural hockey alumni game, local product and professional forward Bradley Marek was right in the middle of the homecoming.

When 1,000 fans packed Ewigleben Ice Arena for Ferris State University's inaugural hockey alumni game, local product and professional forward Bradley Marek was right in the middle of the homecoming. The Friday night exhibition anchored the annual Ferris State hockey golf outing weekend, bringing former Bulldogs back to the ice for a rare blend of competitive nostalgia and community celebration.

For Marek, a Big Rapids native who spent the last two seasons playing for the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League, stepping back into the familiar dressing room offered an immediate connection to his roots. It’s a lot of fun going in the room and seeing all the guys and talking to familiar faces, Marek said John Raffel. We have such a good group at Ferris State. The returning guys always show face. It’s good to finally be able to play a game with those guys I watched growing up.

The turnout caught the attention of university leadership. Ferris State President Bill Pink noted that drawing 1,000 attendees for a first-time alumni hockey event is remarkable, while Athletic Director Steve Brockelbank indicated room for future expansion.

## Building the Bulldog Blueprint

Marek's path to the professional ranks is deeply tied to his collegiate foundation. A former CCHA Rookie of the Year during the 2021-22 season, Marek totaled 18 goals and 19 assists across 73 career games for the Bulldogs before signing an NHL entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild in July 2025. His journey through the United States Hockey League—skating for Bloomington, Youngstown, and Muskegon—preceded a collegiate career defined by grit, leadership, and a relentless physical presence on the forecheck.

Long before wearing the Bulldog sweater, Marek grew up watching the program closely. That lifelong affinity translated into immediate leadership when he arrived on campus. During his freshman year, following a difficult road loss to Canisius in Buffalo, Marek became the sole freshman to speak up in a team hotel meeting, demanding more passion and institutional pride from his peers.

That same competitive motor left him impressed with the current iteration of the squad following a recent practice skate. They look great, Marek observed John Raffel. I was lucky enough to skate with them a couple of days ago, and they look fast and big. It should be a good year.

## A Tight-Knit Community Fabric

The weekend's festivities extended far beyond Friday night's opening puck drop, transitioning seamlessly into Saturday's sold-out golf outing at Katke Golf Course. For an alumnus who remembers his mother working multiple jobs to keep him on the ice during his youth travel hockey days in Grand Rapids, the enduring community support in Big Rapids remains a humbling reminder of where his hockey journey began.

As the current roster prepares for the 2026-27 campaign, Marek's parting message to the active squad serves as both a reflection and a mandate: Enjoy it while you can. It’s an amazing experience being here and being a Bulldog. It’s definitely a blessing to be able to say I played here at Ferris State John Raffel.

## Sources

- [John Raffel](https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/sports/article/ferris-hockey-alums-face-special-game-22370520.php) — original
- [Posted by  Dylan Rider  on September 7, 2022 in  Hockey ,  Sports .](https://fsutorch.com/2022/09/07/rookie-no-more/) — original
- [ferrisstatebulldogs.com](https://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/2022-23/bios/marek_bradley_jti3) — original
- [ferris.edu](https://www.ferris.edu/news/archive/2025/july/ferris-state-hockey-bradley-marek-minnesota-wild-nhl.htm) — original
- [ccha.com](https://ccha.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=395) — original