Feb. 8, 2005

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2004-05 - GAMES 29 & 30

WAYNE STATE HOCKEY (12-14-2, 5-7-2 CHA)
vs. Niagara (10-16-1, 5-8-1 CHA)
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13 - Plymouth, Mich.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:

Arena - Compuware Sports Arena (4,000)
Surface - 200' x 85'
Face-off - 3:05 p.m./2:05 p.m. Eastern
Series Record - Wayne State leads 12-8-1

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team will play its final six regular-season contests at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth starting with this weekend's Saturday-Sunday series against Niagara University.

The Warriors concluded the road portion of their schedule with two losses at first place Bemidji State (2-0 and 5-2) this past weekend. WSU compiled a 6-9-2 overall road record including a 3-5-2 mark in CHA play. Wayne State is 6-5-0 at home this year with a 2-2-0 mark against CHA opponents.

WSU went 1-1-0 in a weekend series at Niagara on Jan. 14-15, winning the opener 4-3 in overtime before falling 4-2 the next evening.

The Warriors dominated the early part of the series compiling a 10-0-1 mark in the first 11 meetings. Since the Warriors' 5-2 victory on Feb. 1, 2003, the Purple Eagles are 8-2 in the last 10 head-to-head contests.

This weekend's two-game set will have a major impact on the College Hockey America standings. The Warriors are currently in third place with 12 points and lead fourth-place Niagara by a single point. With the top two seeds earning quarterfinal round byes, the third and fourth seeds will be designated as the home teams for their quarterfinal matchups (#6 vs. #3 and #5 vs. 4) on Friday, March 11 in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Following the Niagara series, WSU will have an idle weekend then host Air Force on Feb. 26-27 vs. Air Force and Alabama-Huntsville on March 5-6.

The Feb. 27 game will be aired live by Comcast Local with announcers Ben Holden and Matt Williamson calling all the action.

THE COACHES

Wayne State's Bill Wilkinson is 25th in NCAA history with 406 career wins. He is in his sixth season at WSU and 23rd season overall.

Dave Burkholder is in his fourth season at the helm of the Purple Eagle hockey program and has compiled an overall mark of 63-65-10.

THE SERIES

Wayne State leads 12-8-1 in the all-time series. The Warriors won the first nine meeting and were unbeaten in the first 11 contests (10-0-1). Niagara has won eight of the last 10 match-ups including a split in New York last month.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches' poll, while Niagara was picked for second in the CHA.

SCOUTING NIAGARA

The Purple Eagles are winless (0-3-1) in their last four contests after losing twice by identical 4-2 scores at home last weekend to Alabama-Huntsville.

Senior forward Barret Ehgoetz leads the team in assists (24) and points (37), while classmate Ryan Gale has a team-best 19 goals including three short-handed markers and five game-winning goals.

Three goalies have each made at least six starts this year for NU. Jeff Van Nynatten (5-8-1, 2.92, .898) has 14 starts and one shutout.

NU's power play has scored 29 times in 213 chances (13.6%), while allowing 24 goals in 169 opponent man-advantage opportunities (85.8%).

BEMIDJI STATE RECAP

WSU suffered its first conference sweep since March 5-6, 2004, falling twice at league-leader Bemidji State (2-0, 5-2).

The Warriors were shutout for the first time in 34 games in Friday's loss.

WSU was outshot 37-13 in suffering its first shutout loss since a 5-0 defeat at Findlay on Feb. 21, 2004 (when current WSU netminder Will Hooper blanked Wayne State).

The Beavers led 1-0 after 20 minutes on a goal by Lou Garritan at the 3:29 mark although it appeared the play was offsides. BSU held a 12-8 advantage in shots on goal during the first period.

Bemidji State increased its lead to 2-0 just over three minutes into the middle stanza on a goal by Andrew Murray. The Beavers had 14-2 advantage in shots on goal in the second period.

Neither team was able to turn on the red light over the final 36 minutes.

Warrior junior netminder Matt Kelly made 35 saves in the WSU cage, while Beaver goalie Matt Climie turned aside 13 Wayne State shots to record his second shutout of the season.

Wayne State went zero-for-seven with the man-advantage, while Bemidji State was also scoreless on the power play.

WSU could not hold onto an early lead and lost a CHA contest at first place Bemidji State by a 5-2 score Saturday night.

The Warriors led 1-0 after the first period despite being outshot 14-7. Sophomore Jason Bloomingburg scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season at 13:39 mark. Steve Kovalchik and Nate Higgins assisted on Bloomingburg's second first goal of the campaign.

WSU increased its lead to 2-0 just 5:26 into the middle stanza on John May's 10th goal of the year. Bloomingburg earned the lone assist on the four-on-four goal.

Bemidji State began its comeback with a five-on-three power-play goal by Luke Erickson at the 9:31 mark of the second period. On the ensuing five-on-four power play, BSU's leading-goal scorer Brendan Cook tied the game at two at the 10:46 mark.

The Beavers took their first lead of the game late in the second period (19:06 mark) on Andrew Murray's five-on-three man-advantage goal.

Bemidji State had a two-goal advantage early in the third period when Ryan Huddy scored at the 2:08 mark. Myles Kuharski completed the scoring with an empty-net marker with 11 seconds remaining.

Midway through the third period, BSU was assessed three consecutive minor penalties but the Warriors were unable to capitalize on the extended five-on-three power play.

Warrior netminder Matt Kelly made 38 saves in the WSU cage, while Beaver goalie Layne Sedevie turned aside 18 Wayne State shots.

Wayne State went zero-for-10 with the man-advantage, while Bemidji State scored four power-play goals including two five-on-three markers.