Keegan Ferris claims hockey coaching position, high expectations for players

Keegan Ferris took the job opening for the Grand Haven hockey team with a simple vision: for the team to improve every day they take the ice and uphold the “Tradition of Excellence”.

To say that hockey is important to Ferris is an understatement; it has been a part of Ferris’ life since he was four years old.

“On that first team I made some of my best friends to this day,” Ferris said. “That is a big reason I love hockey. The brotherhood. The hockey family that is developed.”

Athletic Director, Scott Robertson, went through a lengthy, challenging process to find the right coach, and Ferris was the perfect fit for the job.

“(He) is very different than what we had in place before,” Robertson said. “Based on the feedback I’ve gotten from kids that have been in the program, they were really looking for a breath of fresh air, and I think he certainly provides that. He works with a real high level of energy, and there’s no doubt about that.”

A year after graduating from Northview High School, Ferris began coaching at Forest Hills Central alongside the two coaches who taught him the game. Ferris graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2014 with a teaching degree, and is currently in his fifth year of coaching. Much like he loved playing, Ferris loved coaching.

“When I saw the job opening for the Grand Haven hockey job, I jumped all over it,” Ferris said. “I knew what a storied program Grand Haven has, and I wanted to be a part of that. Grand Haven as a district, just has that tradition of excellence. Kids are highly motivated, and they want to be the best they can be, and I want to be a part of that as well.”

Senior hockey player, Nick Emerick, says that he is very pleased with the decision to hire coach Ferris.

“He’s going to be a great coach,” Emerick said. “He’s young and laid back, but at the same time he knows when to be serious. He’s going to put together a good hockey team.”

Junior teammate Trey Bledsoe agrees.

“I’m really excited about coach Ferris,” Bledsoe said. “I’m hoping he can lead our team to a better record and make us better players, and a better team.”

Ferris’ goals extend not only from getting better, but also trying to get more players involved in the program.

“It comes down to getting kids excited to come play for Grand Haven,” Ferris said. “There’s lots of kids in the area that play for different travel teams, and just getting them to come back and play high school and getting back to the fundamentals of hockey.”

Ferris hopes that his take on coaching will help the team, as he holds each of his players to high standards and expects nothing less than their best.

“I’m very intense,” Ferris said. “I’m a very passionate person so our practices will be very up tempo, with lots of competition. I guess I’m very aggressive, so I expect the best out of each player every single day that they step on the ice.”

Robertson can relate to Ferris’ attitude.

“(Keegan) works with a real high level of energy, and there’s no doubt about that,” Robertson said. “Surprisingly for his youth, he had some incredible experiences, including being part of the coaching staff that won a state championship at Forest Hills. We want our coaches to be winners, in all of our programs. We want them to accomplish great things.”

This season will be the second year that Grand Haven and Spring Lake have combined for one hockey team. Last year’s team had its highs and lows, so Ferris hopes to take things one day at a time, and to keep the Grand Haven tradition alive.

“I think one of our main goals this year is just to get better every time we’re on the ice, that’s kind of our motto ‘Just get better every day,” Ferris said. “We just need to make sure that we have a goal for every practice, every game, and to improve based on previous games or practices. That’s ultimately what we will strive to do. It is an exciting time to be a part of Grand Haven hockey. I look forward to growing with the group we have and getting better each and every day.”