Jan. 31, 2006

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GAME STORYLINES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team (5-14-5, 2-6-4 CHA) begins a four-game road trip with its final regular-season non-conference series at Northern Michigan (14-12-2, 10-10-2 CCHA) this Friday and Saturday. Game time both nights at the Berry Events Center is 7:35 p.m.

WSU is in fourth place following a tie (2-2 OT) and a loss (6-2) to Alabama-Huntsville this past weekend at the Michigan Fairgrounds. WSU concluded its four-game homestand with a 1-1-2 mark.

BEHIND THE BENCH

Bill Wilkinson is in his seventh season as Wayne State's head coach and his 24th year as a collegiate head coach. Wilkinson's overall record stands at 413-414-76, while his mark at WSU is 100-113-23. He recorded his 100th victory at Wayne State with the Jan. 21 win over RMU.

Former Wildcat player and assistant coach Walt Kyle is in his fourth season at Northern Michigan. Kyle, who coached the U.S. squad at the World Junior Championships last month, has a 79-56-15 mark at NMU.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Wayne State trails the all-time series versus Northern Michigan 0-5-0. The Warriors are 0-2-0 in Marquette after 6-3 and 4-1 losses on Jan. 17-18, 2002. NMU recorded a 6-2 win in the opening game of the 2005 Badger Showdown on Dec. 30.

Saturday's game is a part of the 2005-06 Commissioner's Cup Series.

IN THE POLLS

WSU was tabbed for third in College Hockey America. Northern Michigan was selected third in both the CCHA media and coaches pre-season polls.

ON THIS DATE

WSU is 0-1-0 on Feb. 3 after a 2-1 loss at Air Force in 2001. The Warriors are 1-1-0 on Feb. 4 following a 5-2 victory over Iona in 2000, and a 2-0 loss at Bemidji State in 2005.

SCOUTING NORTHERN MICHIGAN

The Wildcats ended a two-game losing skein with a 2-2 tie at Western Michigan last Saturday.

Junior forward Darin Olver leads the team with four game-winning goals and is tied with senior forward Andrew Contois for the team lead with 12 goals. Senior forward Dirk Southern has a team-best 18 assists.

Sophomore Bill Zaniboni (11-9-2, 2.33, .915) has three shutouts in 23 starts.

NMU has scored 27 power-play goals in 176 chances (15.3%), while stopping 158 of its opponents 185 opportunities (85.4%). The Wildcats have 11 NHL draft picks.

NOTES

WSU is 5-6-3 in its last 14 games after starting the year 0-8-2. The Warriors have tied their last three Friday night games.

Despite being outscored 98-61 this year, Wayne State has only been outscored 22-20 in the first period.

WSU allowed three power-play goals on Saturday, the third time this year the Warriors have allowed three man-advantage markers in a contest.

After scoring once in the first 16 games, freshman forward Derek Punches has four goals in the last eight matches. He scored a goal each night versus Alabama-Huntsville to earn CHA Rookie of the Week accolades.

Junior wing Mark Cannon scored a goal on Saturday, his first since Nov. 11.

Freshman forward Jon Grabarek scored on Friday and had an assist on Saturday giving him four points (2-2) in the last six games.

Junior defenseman Dan Iliakis ended a six-game scoreless streak with an assist each night.

Wayne State plays its final non-conference series of the regular season this weekend at Northern Michigan. The Warriors continue the road swing with a CHA series at Robert Morris the following weekend.

Junior goalie Will Hooper has started four consecutive games for the first time in his two seasons at WSU (he played his freshman year at Findlay).

The seven overtime games is tied for the second-highest single-season total in school history. WSU compiled a 5-3-3 mark in extra session contests during the 2000-01 campaign.

Freshman defenseman Matt Krug has 82 penalty minutes this season, which is five minutes shy of the single-season record of 87 set by Marc St. Jean during the 2001-02 season.

Junior forward Nate Higgins is tied-for-ninth in career points at WSU with 59 (29-30). He is two points behind Steve Kovlachik (9-52--61) for the active lead. Jason Baclig is eighth with 60 points on 20 goals and 40 assists.

Senior defenseman Greg Poupard moved into ninth place on WSU's all-time games played list at 122.