Jan. 31, 2007

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GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State men's hockey team (7-19-0, 3-9-0 CHA) hosts the U.S. National Under-18 Team (21-10-3-1) in exhibition action Friday at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Wayne State dropped a pair of games at Niagara last weekend, 4-2 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday.

The U.S. team has been idle since losing, 5-1, at Colorado College on Jan. 20.

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 421-442-77, while his mark at WSU is 108-141-24.

Ron Rolston is in his third season with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. His career record is 104-49-8-9.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
This marks the third meeting between Wayne State and the U.S. National Under-18 team. The NTDP squad recorded a 4-3 win over WSU on Jan. 25, 2001, while the Warriors came out ahead, 6-3, on Oct. 22, 2002.

IN THE POLLS
WSU was selected to finish fifth in the College Hockey America preseason coaches poll.

ON THIS DATE
Wayne State has played twice on Feb. 2 in its history, skating to a 1-1 overtime tie at Air Force in 2001 and earning a 4-3 victory at Findlay the following season.

SCOUTING U.S. NTDP
The U.S. National Under-18 Team has 21 wins this season, including victories against Division I opponents such as Alaska, Michigan State, Clarkson, Lake Superior State, and Princeton.

Forward James vanRiemsdyk leads the squad with 25 goals, 44 points, and 10 power-play goals this season. Forward Colin Wilson has a team-high 22 assists and is one of five players to appear in all 35 games.

Goaltenders Brad Phillips (11-4-2-0, 2.76 GAA, .902 SV%) and Josh Unice (11-5-1-1, 3.00 GAA, .883 SV%) have split playing time this season.

The team has three Michigan natives on its roster. Phillips is from Farmington Hills, defenseman Ian Cole is from Ann Arbor, and forward Matt Rust is a native of Bloomfield Hills.

WSU NOTES
Wayne State was swept at 16th-ranked Niagara, falling 4-2 on Friday and 4-3 on Saturday.

Niagara leads the all-time series, 15-13-3, as the Warriors have only defeated the Purple Eagles in three of the last 20 meetings (3-15-2 in that span).

Wayne State was held scoreless in 13 power-play opportunities on the weekend.

Linemates Derek Bachynski and Jason Baclig had their respective point streaks of four and five games snapped on Saturday.

Freshman Jared Katz, who totaled five points in his first 17 games, has nine points over his last 11 games. Among CHA rookies, Katz ranks second in points (14) and tied-for-first in goals (7).

Jeff Caister (0-2--2) and Tylor Michel (1-1--2) each recorded their second multiple-point game of the season on Saturday. Caister ranks fifth in points (12) and tied-for-second in assists (11) among CHA rookies.

Since being blanked at Niagara, 4-0, on Dec. 8, the Warriors' sixth shutout loss of the season, Wayne State has averaged 3.50 goals per game, including two seven-goal contests.

Wayne State will host three consecutive CHA series in February, the first being against Alabama-Huntsville on Feb. 9-10.

WSU CAPTAINS
Jason Bloomingburg, Mike Forgie

WSU ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Nate Higgins, Taylor Donohoe