Jan. 19, 2005

Four Wayne State University men's hockey players are listed among the country's best in this week's NCAA statistical report. In addition, the Warriors are ranked in two team categories.

Freshmen forwards Tylor Michel (Sudbury, Ont./Owen Sound Greys) and Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) are tied-for-seventh in the country with two short-handed goals.

Sophomore right wing Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) is tied-for-12th in the nation with three game-winning goals.

Sophomore left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) is tied-for-16th nationally in goals per game at .67 (14 goals in 21 contests).

In terms of team rankings, Wayne State is 17th in scoring offense at 3.23 (71 goals in 22 games) and 16th in power-play percentage at .197 (28 for 142).

In addition, the nine goals scored by WSU on Nov. 20 at Bowling Green is tied for the second most in NCAA Division I hockey this season. Sophomore goalie Will Hooper's (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders) 50 saves at Alabama-Huntsville on January 8 is tied-for-fourth highest single-game mark this season.

The Warriors have a two-game College Hockey America league series this Saturday and Sunday, January 22-23 at Compuware Sports Arena against CHA newcomer Robert Morris University.