To students not from the state of Michigan, Ferris State University can be something of a mystery.

"I don't know anything about it," said MSU hockey freshman defenseman Evan Shaw, who is from Rhode Island. "I don't even know where it is."

So to help out Shaw and other out-of-staters, here's a quick synopsis of Ferris: It's an 11,000-student university with a decorated pharmaceutical school, located about two hours northwest of East Lansing.

And it's also home to the first-place hockey team in the CCHA.

This weekend, the ninth-ranked Bulldogs (11-3-0 overall, 9-1-0 CCHA) play the Spartans in a home-and-home series. Game one is tonight in Big Rapids.

"We should be able to get up for every team," freshman right wing Colton Fretter said. "But knowing they're in first and knowing where we are right now, we know we can get ourselves established with two good games against these guys."

MSU head coach Rick Comley is understandably surprised that Ferris is the best team in the league at this stage of the season. The Bulldogs were picked to finish ninth in both preseason CCHA polls.

"I just watched Ferris on tape today," Comley said Tuesday. "And would you trade a bunch of your guys for their guys? No. But they have a bunch of real good players and they work hard and protect their goalie well.

"They test people's willingness to respect them, and I know that Michigan State is the biggest game on their schedule, so that compounds the issue. All night long, it's going to be like playing in a garbage can."

Ferris' only league blemish was a 4-1 loss to Western Michigan on Nov. 16. The Bulldogs are led by forward Chris Kunitz, who ranks sixth nationally and first in the league with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists).

Workhorse goaltender Mike Brown has played all 14 of Ferris' games, compiling a 1.86 goals against average and .941 saves percentage. He has been the CCHA's Defensive Player of the Week five times already this season.

Ferris had a bye last week, while the Spartans (6-6-1, 3-4-0) had their most impressive weekend of the season - a three-point effort at the College Hockey Showcase. With a win or two over Ferris this weekend, they can carry significant momentum into their three-week midseason break.

"The guys are feeling a lot better about themselves right now," senior forward Troy Ferguson said. "Guys are happy and smiling and excited about getting on the ice - and that's what you want."

Tonight's game will be played in cramped, rowdy Ewigleben Ice Arena, which MSU senior left wing Brian Maloney called, "One of the ugliest barns I've ever played in."

Saturday's contest will be MSU's first home game in almost a month.