Ferris State Captain Reflects on Career Revival in CCHA
by Dylan Rider/CHN Reporter
Gavin Best’s college hockey career has been a story of two halves.
Following a fruitless 12 games over two seasons with the Michigan State Spartans, the Minnesota native’s career has received a shot in the arm after deciding to depart East Lansing for the CCHA’s Ferris State Bulldogs.
The change has seemingly paid off for Best. Since trading in green and white for crimson and gold, the senior has skated in over four times as many contests, scoring 27 points in the process. This season, he leads team forwards in time on ice.
Best, who points to his transfer decision as one of the “stressful and difficult times” of both his career and life, knows he made the right call in making the switch.
“I’m very glad that I made the decision that I did. I was just in need of a change. I was looking to just get more ice time and showcase the ability that I felt I had,” Best said. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to showcase [my abilities] in the way that I wanted to at Michigan State. Ferris State reaching out and then me deciding that that was going to be the best destination for me to play and contribute to team success was a necessary transition that I felt needed to happen.”
The forward’s 2024-25 season saw him capture a 9-10–19 stat line in 36 outings. Best’s nine goals had him finish as the Bulldogs’ second-best goalscorer that year.
Despite the success that accompanied Best’s transfer to Ferris State, he admitted he’s a routine-based guy with little love for changes. Unfortunately for him, another change was heading his way. This time, within his new program.
It was announced in January of 2024 that longtime Ferris State bench boss Bob Daniels would retire following his 33rd season. With the Bulldogs’ campaign coming to a close in March, the university named Long Island University’s Brett Riley as their new skipper before the month was over.
Best admitted that a coaching change wasn’t ideal; however, it wouldn’t take long for Riley to instill a certain level of belief in Best with him at the helm.
“I was very impressed with the way that he carried himself, his knowledge and passion that he has for the game,” Best said. “I felt that seeing that kind of determination and passion that he had for the game, his professionalism, his past results and his thoughts of me as a player all compiled together and made me feel comfortable about deciding to stay here.”
This came as another smart decision for the 24-year-old, as he was named captain before his second season with the Bulldogs began. Best’s four years of experience fit perfectly into Riley’s roster, which sits tied for first in the NCAA average for age.
Riley has endless praise for his first captain with Ferris State, emphasizing how important Best had been during his entrance with the Bulldog. For Riley, Best’s game is emblematic of something larger.
“He plays the way he lives,” Riley said. “What I mean by that is, he’s honest, he’s mature, he’s intense and he carries those qualities over onto the ice. He plays a mature game. He plays hard with competitive excellence and grit. He holds himself to a high standard. He’s not looking for shortcuts. I think his play has started to become, as we battled some adversity here, infectious throughout the room. The guys are watching what he’s doing and trying to emulate that.”
The Bulldog captain’s 2025 season is off to a solid start, with Best picking up seven points in 12 games thus far. As he plays on through the young season, he’s reflected on the road that’s gotten him to this point.
“I did not know that I would end up here and end up in this position,” Best said. “Obviously, there are a lot of things that happened from when I went into Michigan State as a freshman until now. I’m very proud of that progression and having to battle through adversity, which taught me a lot.”