Ferris State's Zech, Salmenkangas Reached Michigan From 9 Time Zones Apart

Last year Cooper Zech and Roni Salmenkangas lived nine time zones apart, a couple of teenagers playing junior hockey on other sides of the world. Zech was in the Pacific Northwest bagging a BCHL title as the circuit’s best defenseman, while Salmenkangas was putting up world-class statistics in Finland’s top U-20 league. Today they are dorm neighbors in Big Rapids, Michigan, freshmen at Ferris State who have given Bulldogs hockey nation justifiable cause for optimism. On Friday night, the 19-year-old tandem contributed greatly to Ferris’ business-like 4-0 shutout against Alaska-Anchorage, with Salmenkangas notching his first NCAA shutout on 27 saves, and Zech collecting a pair of helpers. 

Oct 31, 2018