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 Freshman Stavros Paskaris scored the game-winner and added two assists against Air Force. |
Feb. 26, 2005
Plymouth, Mich. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (13-15-3 overall, 6-8-3 College Hockey America) snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 5-1 victory over visiting Air Force (13-16-2, 5-12-0 CHA) Saturday afternoon at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth.
The Warrior power play which had converted just once in 27 opportunities over the four previous games accounted for two goals and Wayne State scored its eighth short-handed goal of the season.
Sophomore left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich.,/Texas Tornado) recorded his fourth multiple-goal game of the season, and second against the Falcons, as well as his team-leading eighth multiple-point game of the campaign.
Freshman center Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) ended a six-game pointless streak by scoring the game-winning goal and adding two assists for his seventh multiple-point game of the season.
The first period was evenly played with Air Force holding a 12-11 advantage in shots on goal but the Warriors led 1-0 on freshman Adam Krug's (Livonia, Mich./Sioux City Muskeeters) second short-handed goal of the year.
Krug's 10th of the season came just 10 seconds into a Falcon power play (at the 9:38 mark) as he won a defensive zone face-off that Taylor Donohoe (Richmond, B.C./Powell River Kings) pushed along the boards to Paskaris. Paskaris' clearing attempt eluded the left defenseman setting up Krug who skated the puck into the offensive zone and blistered a shot past AF netminder Ian Harper.
Early in the second period on a WSU man-advantage, Donohoe kept the puck in at the right point and fed Paskaris in the high slot, his initial shot was stopped by Harper but Paskaris was able to slide the rebound past the Falcon goalie.
The Warriors increased their lead to 3-0 at the 8:59 mark as Mike Forgie (Scarborough, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) scored off a rebound of a Mark Bradshaw (Stony Plain, Alb./Humboldt Broncos) shot. John May (Livonia, Mich./Springfield Junior Blues) started the scoring play by intercepting a Air Force pass in the neutral zone.
Bloomingburg's even-strength marker 2:21 into the third period came after Tylor Michel (Sudbury, Ont./Owen Sound Greys) stole the puck behind the Falcon cage and fed Bloomingburg alone in front.
The Falcons took advantage of a five-on-three power play as Brandon Merkosky scored on a rebound from just outside the crease at the 5:43 mark.
Bloomingburg tied the school record for goals in a season (18 set by Dustin Kingston in 2000-01) as he was the recipient of a cross-ice pass to the backdoor by Paskaris during a Wayne State power play. Bradshaw earned his second helper of the contest by feeding Paskaris.
Wayne State junior goaltender Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) stopped 27 of Air Force's 28 shots and in the process improved his season save percentage to .920. Harper made 31 saves on WSU's 36 shots.
Each team had six power-play chances with the Warriors scoring twice to the Falcons' one.
The teams conclude the weekend set with a 2:07 p.m. face-off on Sunday at the Compuware Sports Arena. Following the game, the annual "Skate with the Warriors" will take place.
Notes:
Wayne State improves to 7-6-1 at home this season and 3-3-1 against CHA foes.
The Warriors are 8-1-1 when leading after 40 minutes and 8-4-2 when scoring first.
WSU is 7-1-0 when scoring two or more power-play goals in a game.
Freshman defenseman Mark Bradshaw recorded his first collegiate multiple-point game as did sophomore blueliner Taylor Donohoe. The assists were the first for Bradshaw since Nov. 23 and the first for Donohoe since Jan. 7.
Stavros Paskaris equaled a career-best with three points (originally set Jan. 22 vs. Robert Morris).
In addition to tying the school record for goals in season, Jason Bloomingburg has seven power-play goals, which is two behind the Warrior record of nine set by Jason Durbin during the 2001-02 campaign.
