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Pat Ferschweiler

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Pat Ferschweiler
Born (1970-02-20) February 20, 1970 (age 54)
Rochester, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Right wing
Shot Right
Played for Roanoke Express
Minnesota Moose
Kansas City Blades
San Francisco Spiders
London Knights
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 1993–2001
Coaching career
Current position
TitleHead Coach
TeamWestern Michigan
ConferenceNCHC
Biographical details
Alma materWestern Michigan University
Playing career
1990–93Western Michigan
Position(s)Right wing
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2010–14Western Michigan (Asst.)
2014–15Grand Rapids Griffins (Asst.)
2015–2019Detroit Red Wings (Asst.)
2019–2021Western Michigan (Asso.)
2021–PresentWestern Michigan
Head coaching record
Overall70–43–3 (.616)
Tournaments1–3 (.250)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2012 CCHA Tournament (Asst.)

Pat Ferschweiler (born February 20, 1970) is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Western Michigan Broncos.[1]

Playing career

[edit]

Ferschweiler began his collegiate career with the Western Michigan Broncos in 1990, having previously played for the Rochester Mustangs of the USHL.[2] He had a strong first season with the Broncos, registering 20 points in 42 games during the 1990–91 season. The following season was a successful one for Ferschweiler, as he was named the Best Defensive Forward in the CCHA, despite scoring at over a point-per-game rate.[1] He returned for his third year with the Broncos and was named team captain; during the 1992–93 season he tallied 35 points in 38 games.[2] and was a runner up for the Best Defensive Forward award.[3] At the culmination of the season, Ferschweiler turned professional.

Ferschweiler's first pro season was spent with the Roanoke Express of the ECHL, where he had a strong season, finishing 2nd in the team in scoring after registering 85 points in 68 games.[4] The Express would make it to the playoffs, but would ultimately lose to the Raleigh IceCaps in the opening round. He would return to Roanoke for the 1994–95 season and would be the leading the team's leading scorer when he was called up to the Kansas City Blades of the IHL,[5] having already played one game in the IHL with Roanoke's parent team, the Minnesota Moose.[6] With the Blades, he registered 29 points in 49 games during the regular season. The team would have an extended run in the playoffs, ultimately losing to the Denver Grizzlies in the final.

The 1995–96 season saw Ferschweiler remain in Kansas City, however, on December 21, 1995, he was traded to the San Francisco Spiders in exchange for Jeff Madill, where he played for the rest of the season.[5] His stay in California was short lived however, as he returned to Kansas City in time for the 1996–97 season. He would struggle to find form during the season, registering only 10 points in 49 games.[2] The following season would be more productive, with Ferschweiler scoring 43 points in 79 games, and the team made it to the final playoff quarter finals, before losing to the Long Beach Ice Dogs. Ferschweiler would have another good season during 1997–98, tallying 45 points in 80 games. The 1999–00 season would see another dip in production, with Ferschweiler tallying 29 games in 82 games, as the team missed the playoffs.

Ferschweiler would move overseas for the 2000–01 season, moving to the U.K. in order to play for reigning British champions the London Knights of the BISL. Joining him in the British capital was former Blades teammate Brendan Yarema,[7][8] whilst David Vallieres & Grant Richison joined the team later in the season.[9] Ferschweiler was named captain and would register 20 points in 39 games. Whilst performing well in the league, the Knights would also find continental success, beating both the Munich Barons and HC Slovan Bratislava in the IIHF Continental Cup. Although Swiss side ZSC Lions would ultimately win the Cup, the Knights would take the silver medal and their performance in the competition was considered to be the best by a British team at the time.[10] Towards the end of the season, Ferschweiler picked up a wrist injury which would ultimately keep him out of the playoffs;[11] the Knights narrowly lost in the playoff final to the Sheffield Steelers. Subsequently, Ferschweiler retired as a professional hockey player.

Awards and achievements

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Career statistics

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1989–90 Rochester Mustangs USHL 44 22 35 57 28 — — — — —
1990–91 Western Michigan University NCAA 42 7 13 20 71 — — — — —
1991–92 Western Michigan University NCAA 36 8 32 40 56 — — — — —
1992–93 Western Michigan University NCAA 38 15 20 35 58 — — — — —
1993–94 Roanoke Express ECHL 68 27 58 85 79 2 0 1 1 2
1994–95 Roanoke Express ECHL 22 8 22 30 44 — — — — —
1994–95 Minnesota Moose IHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1994–95 Kansas City Blades IHL 49 11 18 29 28 20 2 4 6 22
1995–96 Kansas City Blades IHL 16 0 3 3 8 — — — — —
1995–96 San Francisco Spiders IHL 42 3 7 10 42 4 0 0 0 0
1996–97 Kansas City Blades IHL 49 4 6 10 42 2 0 1 1 2
1997–98 Kansas City Blades IHL 79 16 27 43 73 10 2 2 4 8
1998–99 Kansas City Blades IHL 80 7 38 45 66 3 0 1 1 2
1999–00 Kansas City Blades IHL 82 8 21 29 66 — — — — —
2000–01 London Knights BISL 39 3 17 20 26 — — — — —
IHL totals 398 49 120 169 325 39 4 8 12 34

Coaching career

[edit]

In 2004, Ferschweiler took on the role of general manager and head coach of the Russell Stover Under-18 team of the Midwest Elite Hockey League. He simultaneously acted as the director of hockey for the Kansas City Stars youth organization from 2005 to 2009.[12]

Ferschweiler returned to his alma mater in 2010, serving as an assistant under new WMU head coach Jeff Blashill. The Broncos enjoyed their best season in years, leading to an appearance in the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. After the 2010–11 season, Blashill departed WMU for an assistant coaching position with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. Ferschweiler was one of several candidates who interviewed for the head coaching position at WMU, a job that eventually went to former NHL head coach Andy Murray.[13] Ferschweiler remained on the Broncos staff as assistant to Murray for the next three seasons. Prior to the 2013–14 season, he was promoted to associate head coach.[1]

Ferschweiler joined the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL as an assistant coach for the 2014–15 season, replacing Jim Paek. The move reunited him with Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill.

On June 23, 2015, Ferschweiler, Tony Granato, Chris Chelios, and Dave Noel-Bernier were named assistant coaches for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL. The move once again reunited him with Blashill, who had been named the Red Wings head coach on June 9.[14][15] Ferschweiler had earlier been mentioned in news reports as a candidate for the Griffins head coaching job, which ultimately went to Todd Nelson.[16]

Whilst at the Red Wings, Ferschweiler also served as an Assistant coach with the USA U-18 team as they competed in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. In 2019 he was promoted to Head coach, as the team finished 6th overall.[1]

On July 30, 2019, it was announced that Ferschweiler would return to WMU, as an Associate Head Coach.[17]

On August 3, 2021, it was announced that Ferschweiler would take over as Head Coach at WMU in wake of Andy Murray resigning.[18]

College

[edit]
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Western Michigan Broncos (NCHC) (2021–2013)
2021–22 Western Michigan 26–12–1 14–9–1 3rd NCAA Northeast Regional Final
2022–23 Western Michigan 23–15–1 15–8–1 2nd NCAA East Regional Semifinal
2023–24 Western Michigan 21–16–1 11–13–1 6th NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal
Western Michigan: 70–43–3 40–31–3
Total: 70–43–3

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Personal

[edit]

Ferschweiler graduated from Western Michigan University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in finance. He is married to his wife Stacie, and has two daughters.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Pat Ferschweiler - Men's Ice Hockey Coach". Western Michigan Broncos. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Pat Ferschweiler". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  3. ^ "Ferschweiler makes his success a step at a time". Post-Bulletin. May 3, 1995. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "Roanoke Express". EliteProspects.com. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Spiders Deal Madill To Kansas City". SFGate. December 22, 1995. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  6. ^ "Roanoke Express Parent Teams". Hockeydb. December 22, 1995. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  7. ^ "First signings for Knights". London Knights. July 21, 2000. Archived from the original on March 6, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  8. ^ "More confirmed for London Knights". London Knights. August 15, 2000. Archived from the original on June 25, 2001. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  9. ^ "Knights snap up Richison". BBC. November 21, 2000. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Superleague needs a higher profile". BBC. April 2, 2001. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  11. ^ "Shaken Knights face cup test". Evening Standard. February 13, 2001. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "Team - Pat Ferschweiler, Detroit Red Wings Assistant Coach". NHL. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "WMU hockey assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler taking pride in Broncos' resurgence after successful career for the Brown and Gold". MLive.com. January 24, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News (June 23, 2015). "Granato, Ferschweiler, Chelios are Wings' assistant coaches". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  15. ^ George Sipple, Detroit Free Press (June 23, 2015). "Jeff Blashill touts his first Detroit Red Wings coaching staff". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "Derek Lalonde, Todd Nelson finalists to take over Grand Rapids Griffins". MLive.com. June 15, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  17. ^ "Pat Ferschweiler returns to Western Michigan hockey". WWMT. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  18. ^ "Andy Murray Resigns After 10 Seasons, Pat Ferschweiler Named WMU Head Hockey Coach". WWMT. August 3, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by NCHC Coach of the Year
2022–23 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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