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 Ryan Bernardi's assist was his first point in seven games. |
Feb. 9, 2007
DETROIT, Mich. - The Wayne State men's hockey team (7-20-0, 3-10-0) surrendered a pair of power-play goals in the second period and ultimately lost, 3-1, to conference foe Alabama-Huntsville (8-17-2, 5-9-1 CHA) on Friday night at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
UAH sophomore blueliner Scott Kalinchuck scored twice with a man advantage in the middle stanza, with senior Grant Selinger adding an insurance goal in the final period. Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) scored the Warriors' only tally of the evening.
Joe Federoff set up Kalinchuck's first goal, winning a faceoff in the Wayne State zone and dropping the puck to linemate Kevin Morrison, who found Kalinchuck open at the point. Kalinchuck's shot went in low past the left pad of WSU goaltender Brett Bothwell (Red Deer, Alb./Yorkton Terriers) at 7:07 in the second period.
Higgins tied the game at the 11:34 mark, as Ryan Bernardi (Etobicoke, Ont./Milton Icehawks) made a nice play to keep the puck alive as UAH attempted to clear the zone. The freshman knocked the puck ahead to classmate Jared Katz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Baystate Breakers) and, as a two-on-one ensued, Katz sent it across to Higgins for a one-timer.
Kalinchuck's game-winner was another blast from the blue line, as he and Brandon Roshko worked the puck back and forth along the line until Kalinchuck could get an open look. He then fired a slap shot in the top corner above Bothwell's blocker to put UAH ahead, 2-1, at the 13-minute mark.
Wayne State nearly tied the game again with 40 seconds left in the period when Dan Iliakis' (Scarborough, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) shot from the point hit the left pipe.
Selinger and David Nimmo capitalized on a two-on-one situation late in the third period to put the game away.
Shots were even at 24 despite a 14-2 Warrior advantage in the third period. Freshman netminder Blake MacNicol made 23 saves for the Chargers, earning the victory in his first career start. Bothwell totaled 21 saves, 20 of which came in the first 40 minutes.
Wayne State and Alabama-Huntsville will face off in the Coliseum again tomorrow night (Feb. 10) at 7:05 p.m.
