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RPI 2020 Off-season Overtime: In Memory of Turk181

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Today is 9 January 2021. There are 266 days (28 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
https://siouxcityjournal.com/sports...tm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_SCJSports

Brady Ferner gains 'unique perspective' by spending season with Musketeers

Zach James

Jan 7, 2021 Updated Jan 7, 2021 SIOUX CITY — Brady Ferner learned a valuable lesson about perspective, even in the first two months of the Sioux City Musketeers’ season.

Ferner, a Dakota Valley High School graduate, was supposed to be playing his junior hockey season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in Troy, New York.

The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t allow that to happen, however. On Nov. 12, RPI announced it was going to cancel its hockey season as a whole.

Ferner and the rest of his RPI teammates saw the writing on the wall, but couldn’t deny that losing a full hockey season was a punch to the gut.

From there, Ferner had to figure out his options for the winter.

The school was going to send everyone home for Thanksgiving break, anyway, so Ferner decided to see what opportunities he could get at home.

He knew training at home would be easiest, as RPI would not allow players access to the weight room or the rink.

So, Ferner decided to come back home.

“With not being able to play, this was the best place for me,” Ferner said. “I’m able to train and work out with an elite group of guys that are very talented and have a very good work ethic. That pushes me to be better as a player and as a person. For me, it was a no-brainer to come back home.”

While Ferner was waiting on whether RPI was going to play this season, he exchanged text messages with Musketeers coach Luke Strand.

Strand wanted to check in with his Ferner, who was the Musketeers’ 2017-18 captain, and he helped the Musketeers win the Anderson Cup in 2016-17.

When Ferner gave Strand the bad news of no season for RPI, Strand invited Ferner to come home as soon as he could.

Then, Strand came up with another idea: Putting Ferner on the bench as an assistant coach.

The idea was originally brought up as a joke, but it didn’t take that much time for Ferner to make that an option.

“It was a little bit of phone tag,” Ferner said. “He had mentioned a couple times prior to the season getting canceled, that I would have the opportunity to come back here and do what I need to do. I had no idea that it would lead to this.”

Ferner shortly thereafter began the process of becoming a licensed assistant hockey coach. It took about a month, as he needed to fill out the necessary paperwork to do so.

Once that took shape, Ferner was able to stand on the bench with the men who coached him while with the Musketeers.

Ferner first stepped to the bench early in the season, and he was surprised at the emotions he felt that first time he stood with the coaching staff.

“That brought back a whole lot of memories,” Ferner said. “I was excited, but I was almost sad because I missed being (at Tyson Events Center). At the same time, I had a lot of gratitude for what I get to do there. I wouldn’t be the same person if it wasn’t for Coach Strand or (associate head coach Mark) Abalan. It’s a unique experience.”

When Sioux City isn’t practicing, Ferner serves as a coach on the ice. Ferner has had the chance to practice with the team in full equipment, and he’s been able to use the Sioux City weight room to keep him in shape as if he was with his college team at RPI.

Ferner does the same drills and activities during practice with the players, but when Ferner sees something at practice that he can point out to a player, he’ll do so.

“I love doing that type of stuff,” Ferner said. “I feel comfortable speaking up. There’s a right way to go about it. Being an older guy playing at the D-I level, anytime I have something to say, I can get their attention a little easier. I played for Strand and Abalan, and I know what they expect.”

Ferner works closest with Abalan on the defensive side of the ice, since that’s what Ferner played when in Sioux City.

Ferner also has developed personal relationships with the Musketeer players, and that’s something he’s also enjoyed.

The Dakota Dunes native isn’t used to telling stories of his United States Hockey League playing days with his RPI teammates, so when one of the current players request story time, Ferner grows a smile on his face.

“Being able to share those stories is cool,” Ferner said.

There’s still plenty of season left for Ferner to build those relationships on and off the ice, and while he isn’t playing this winter, he’s learned to take it all in stride.

“Life is all about perspective, and a couple weeks when I was at school, it was tough,” Ferner recalled. “We were swallowing the pill and we thought the world was against us. It’s been a blessing being here. It’s helped me grow as a person and a player.”

Ferner and the rest of the Musketeers continue their season Friday at Tri-City, and they’ll return home for a 3:05 p.m. Sunday game against Fargo.
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engineerhockeyfan said:
Great article Ralph. It looks like we may have a future captain once RPI gets back to hockey.
Changing the subject, UMass Lowell has postponed their season due to the virus. I hope Savory isn't one of the players infected.
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Unless he was unhappy with RPI this transfer is looking like a really dumb move. I also hope he is healthy.
 
Today is 10 January 2021. There are 265 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
Today is 11 January 2021. There are 264 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
Today is 12 January 2021. There are 263 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
NAFTA123 said:
https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...-Midseason.php

"What hurts is, we were turning some heads — look at what RPI is doing."...................................
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That Smith quote dates back at least a few months. The sentence immediately following that one is more surprising from CHN : "RPI is hoping to at least allow its remaining players to practice together soon." Really ??? Has anyone heard anything like this ? Not sure where Wodon got that info.
 
Wicked Slappaahs said:
That Smith quote dates back at least a few months. The sentence immediately following that one is more surprising from CHN : "RPI is hoping to at least allow its remaining players to practice together soon." Really ??? Has anyone heard anything like this ? Not sure where Wodon got that info.
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Still no commitment from SAJ to allow facilities to open in Spring semester. Still no guarantee hockey Jr’s allowed on campus for Spring semester. Still no word on off campus debacle on whether two student 1 bathroom rule still in play. Some students approved for online at home Spring semester, then told to be on campus....... list goes on and on for the entire student body.

College hockey continues on, not without some adversity, but it moves forward. RPI can’t even ccommit to allowing workouts. The longer this drags on the way it is, the uglier the message from administration to the students is.
 
Today is 13 January 2021. There are 262 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
Today is 14 January 2021. There are 261 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
Yawn - Bored. May have to break down and watch a little NFL football until I can get up some interest for the NHL.
 
DrDemento said:
Yawn - Bored. May have to break down and watch a little NFL football until I can get up some interest for the NHL.
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You are not alone Doc. One tidbit of interest today per CHN NCAA put off decision on Transferring without sitting a year. Fingers crossed that doesn`t happen.
 
Today is 15 January 2021. There are 260 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 2 October 2021 for the start of next season.
 
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