Jan. 13, 2004

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2003-04 - Games 21 & 22

WSU MEN'S HOCKEY (6-12-2, 2-6-0 CHA)
vs. Alabama-Huntsville (6-7-1, 5-3-0 CHA)
Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 17-18 - Detroit, Mich.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:

Arena -- Compuware Sports Arena (4,000)
Surface -- 200' x 85'
Face-off -- 3:05 p.m./2:05 p.m. Eastern
Site -- Detroit, Michigan
Series Record -- Alabama-Huntsville leads 10-7-1

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team returns home this weekend after its school-record 12-game road trip to face league-rival Alabama-Huntsville. WSU and the Chargers play Saturday (3:05 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.) at Plymouth's Compuware Sports Arena. Following Sunday's contest there will be a "Skate With The Warriors."

Wayne State concluded its road trip with a 4-8-0 mark after splitting its College Hockey America series at Air Force (2-5, 3-2) last weekend. Marc Carlson's league win on Saturday was his first CHA victory since defeating Niagara, 4-3, on Jan. 13, 2001. Six of the 12 road games were against nationally-ranked opponents.

From November 20 (at Michigan State) when the excursion began, until returning home on January 11, the Warriors traveled 8,254 miles.

In addition, WSU has played just four of its 20 games in Detroit. Starting with this weekend's series against UAH, Wayne State will play nine of its final 14 regular-season games at Compuware. The Warriors, however, are just 1-3-0 (1-2-0 at Compuware and 0-1-0 at Taylor) at home this year.

THE COACHES

WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson is in his fifth season as the Warrior bench boss. He has a 78-70-13 record at WSU with an overall collegiate head coaching mark of 391-371-66 in his 22nd season.

Doug Ross, a 1976 graduate of Bowling Green and a native of Dearborn, Mich., has a 399-217-31 mark in his 22nd year at UAH. His overall mark in his 24th season stands at 455-252-33.

THE SERIES

Wayne State trails 7-10-1 in the all-time series after the Chargers won three of four meetings a year ago. WSU is 3-4-1 at home against UAH.

IN THE POLLS

The Warriors were selected fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches poll after finishing tied-for-third in 2002-03. Alabama-Huntsville was picked third by the CHA coaches.

SCOUTING ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE

The Chargers swept Findlay (4-1, 3-1) last weekend to improve to 6-7-1 overall.

Junior forward Jared Ross (7-18--25) leads the team in assists and points and is tied with sophomore Bruce Mulherin and junior Craig Bushey for team-high honors in goals at seven. Sophomore Scott Munroe (2-4-1, 3.25, .905) and senior Adam MacLean (4-3-0, 2.45, .919) have each started seven games.

UAH's power play has scored 13 times in 73 opportunities (17.8%), while the penalty-killing units have stopped 67 of 76 (88.2%) opponent chances.

AIR FORCE RECAP

Wayne State concluded its road trip with a CHA split at Air Force.

The Warriors played their first College Hockey America contest since December 6, but suffered a 5-2 setback at the United States Air Force Academy on Jan. 8.

The host Falcons outscored the Warriors by one goal in each period (2-1, 2-1, 1-0) for their first win against WSU since January 12, 2002. Wayne State had been unbeaten in the last six (5-0-1) meetings against the Academy.

Air Force's Brandon Merkosky scored his fifth of the season at the 6:01 mark of the opening period and Theo Zacour added a power-play goal just 66 seconds later for a 2-0 lead.

WSU's Billy Collins, who entered the contest with four career goals and eight points in 10 games versus the Falcons, put the Warriors on the board with 6:45 left in the first period. His third of the season was assisted by Nathan Rosychuk and freshman defenseman Taylor Donohoe.

In the middle stanza, Air Force scored the first two goals before Collins added his second of the night. It was his first multiple-goal game since scoring twice versus Findlay on March 7, 2003.

Zacour's second power-play goal of the game at the 6:10 mark gave the Falcons a 3-1 advantage, and Mike Knaeble added an even-strength marker with 9:17 remaining in the middle period. Collins' fourth of the year was assisted by sophomore John May and junior John Grubb.

Adam Larson of Air Force scored an unassisted goal at the 2:45 mark of the third period to complete the scoring.

WSU had two power-play chances in the third period but were unable to get the puck past Air Force netminder Mike Polidor, who finished with 21 saves including 10 in the third period. Warrior sophomore goaltender Matt Kelly turned aside 27 shots including 12 in the third period.

Wayne State concluded its school-record 12-game road trip by rallying for three third period goals in a 3-2 triumph at the United States Air Force Academy on Jan. 10. All six of WSU's victories this season have been by a 3-2 score.

The Falcons scored once in the first period and once in the second period. Mike Knaeble gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead as he scored from Seth Pelletier and Shane Saum at 6:36 of the opening period. His shot came from the high slot and beat Wayne State goaltender Marc Carlson high glove side. In the second period, Ryan Wiggins' fifth goal of the season gave the Falcons a two-goal lead. Wiggins scored from Spanky Leonard and Steve Mead.

At the 6:47 mark of the third period, junior center Billy Collins scored his third goal of the weekend and fifth of the season off assists from Taylor Donohoe and sophomore Steve Kovalchik. The scoring play started when WSU chipped the puck out of its own end and Collins was all alone at the Falcon blue line. He skated down the left wing and fired a shot that hit Air Force goalie Mike Polidor in the pad and squirted through his legs. It was Donohoe's third assist in the last six games, while Kovalchik earned his first point since Dec. 12.

After freshman Nate Higgins won a faceoff, classmate Ryan Wright tied the game with a one-timer at 12:12 of the third period. Wright's second goal in the last four games gave Higgins his fifth assist in the last seven games.

Rookie and team goal-scoring leader Jason Baclig put the Warriors in front for the first time in the game with 6:08 remaining in the third period. His first collegiate game-winner and eighth of the campaign was assisted by defenseman Aaron Hundt. Baclig has four goals in the last eight games, while Hundt earned his first point since Nov. 20.

In the final minute, Polidor was pulled from the net and Air Force had several quality chances right in front of the Warrior net. Brandon Merkosky had two shots and Wiggins had one near the left post but Carlson made the stops.

Carlson finished with 34 saves including 14 in the second period and 12 in the final period. Polidor made 28 stops in the Falcon cage. WSU was zero-for-four with the man-advantage, while Air Force scored once in eight power-play opportunities.