Jan. 17, 2007

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GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State University men's hockey team (5-17-0, 1-7-0 CHA) resumes its College Hockey America schedule this weekend, hosting Robert Morris (8-11-1, 5-5-0 CHA) at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Wayne State split last weekend against Ferris State, earning a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in overtime on Friday before dropping a 7-3 decision on Saturday.

Robert Morris traveled to conference foe Alabama-Huntsville last weekend, winning Friday's game, 3-2, but falling, 3-1, on Saturday.

BEHIND THE BENCH
Bill Wilkinson is in his eighth season as Wayne State's head coach and his 25th year as a collegiate head coach. Wilkinson's overall record stands at 419-440-77, while his mark at WSU is 106-139-24.

Robert Morris' Derek Schooley, who played under Wilkinson at Western Michigan (1991-94), has spent his entire three-year head coaching career behind the Colonials' bench, posting a record of 28-52-8.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Wayne State leads the all-time series, 3-2-3, which dates back to the 2004-05 season. The teams split last season, with each squad earning a victory as well as two ties.

IN THE POLLS
WSU was selected to finish fifth in the CHA preseason coaches poll. Robert Morris was tabbed for fourth.

ON THIS DATE
Wayne State has played just once on Jan. 19, earning a 5-2 win at Findlay in 2001.

On Jan. 20, the Warriors defeated the Oilers on the road again, 3-1, in 2001, and tied the Colonials, 2-2, in Detroit last season.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
The Colonials need four more wins overall and two more in conference play to match their respective totals from a season ago. The team achieved its biggest win in the three-year history of the program on Jan. 7 with a 4-2 victory at then #2 Notre Dame.

Robert Morris has played five series within the CHA this season and has split each of them, including three against Alabama-Huntsville.

Junior forward Ryan Cruthers leads the squad with 13 assists and is tied with senior Aaron Clarke for the team-high in points (17). Junior David Boguslawski has a team-best eight goals.

Christian Boucher (5-8-1, 3.70, .894) has played the majority of the time in goal for the Colonials, but Joe Tuset (3-3-0, 2.48, .930) has seen action in seven games.

Robert Morris leads the CHA with an 83.0 penalty-kill percentage.

WSU NOTES
Friday marked the Warriors' second straight victory at home against a CCHA opponent, as well as their first overtime game of the season and first victory in which their opponent scored first.

Wayne State surrendered four unanswered goals in the third period on Saturday. The Warriors have been outscored, 32-11, in the third period this season.

Freshman forward Jared Katz, the College Hockey America Rookie of the Week, had a goal in each game, including Friday's game-winner. He has a five-game point scoring streak, with a goal in four of the five games, and his 11 total points on the season ranks third among freshmen in the CHA.

Senior Jason Bloomingburg, who had an assist in each game against the Bulldogs, has a six-game point streak. He leads the team overall with 16 points.

Wayne State will travel to Niagara next weekend, Jan. 26-27. Both games will be broadcast on WDTK 1400 AM and online at wdtkam.com.

WSU CAPTAINS
Jason Bloomingburg, Mike Forgie

WSU ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Nate Higgins, Taylor Donohoe