Jan. 26, 2005

Five Wayne State University men's hockey players are listed among the nation'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-eighth in the country with two short-handed goals.

Sophomore forward Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) is tied-for-13th 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 .65 (15 goals in 23 contests).

Junior goaltender Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) is 19th in the NCAA in winning percentage at .615 with an 8-5-0 record.

In terms of team rankings, Wayne State is 15th in scoring offense at 3.25 (78 goals in 24 games) and 20th in power-play percentage at .187 (29 for 155).

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 play their final non-league series of the season this Friday and Saturday at CCHA member Nebraska-Omaha.