Feb. 8, 2007

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GAME STORYLINES
In its first of three consecutive College Hockey America series at home this month, the Wayne State men's hockey team (7-19-0, 3-9-0 CHA) hosts Alabama-Huntsville (7-17-2, 4-9-1 CHA) this weekend at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Both games are slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Wayne State defeated the U.S. National Under-18 Development Team, 6-5 in overtime, in exhibition action on Friday.

UAH and Bemidji State tied, 5-5, in overtime on Friday in Huntsville. The Beavers defeated the Chargers, 3-1, the following night.

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.

In 25 seasons at UAH, Doug Ross has a record of 448-266-42. His 28-year overall record is 504-301-44.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Alabama-Huntsville leads the all-time series, 19-12-3. Wayne State snapped a seven-game winless streak against UAH with an 8-6 victory on Oct. 21.

IN THE POLLS
WSU was selected to finish fifth in the College Hockey America preseason coaches poll, while UAH was tabbed for fourth.

ON THIS DATE
Wayne State has played twice on Feb. 9 in its history, falling, 8-5, at Alabama-Huntsville in 2001 and earning a 3-1 victory at Niagara the following season.

On Feb. 10, the Chargers defeated the Warriors in Huntsville, 6-3, in 2001, and last season Wayne State and Robert Morris skated to a 7-7 tie in Pennsylvania.

SCOUTING ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE
Since Wayne State visited UAH in October, the Chargers are 6-13-1 and winless in their last four games.

Senior forward David Nimmo leads the squad with 26 points, while classmate Grant Selinger has team-highs of 13 goals and eight power-play markers. Senior blueliner Shaun Arvai is UAH's leader in assists (16).

Arvai (2-16--18) and senior Mike Salekin (3-13--16) are the top two scoring defensemen in College Hockey America.

Alabama-Huntsville's penalty-kill percentage of 75.3 ranks lowest in the nation. Their power-play average of 19.5, however, is 18th in the country and second in the league.

Junior goaltender Marc Narduzzi (6-14-1, 3.81, .884) has seen most of the playing time this season, but sophomore Jordan Erickson (1-3-1, 4.73, .847) has appeared in nine games.

WSU NOTES
In exhibition action against the U.S. NTDP squad on Friday, Nate Higgins recorded a hat trick, while Matt Krug netted the tying goal late in regulation and the game-winner in the extra period.

Senior Dan Iliakis (3-10--13) and freshman Jeff Caister (1-11--12) rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in points among CHA defensemen.

Jared Katz (7-7--14) is third among CHA rookies in points, while Caister ranks fifth. Katz is also tied for the league lead in goals scored by freshmen.

This weekend marks Alabama-Huntsville's first trip to Detroit since last year's CHA Tournament.

The Warriors and Chargers split a series in Huntsville on Oct. 20-21, as UAH earned a 4-2 win before Wayne State recorded a season-high eight goals in an 8-6 victory the next night.

Higgins totaled three goals and four points Oct. 21, and freshman goaltender Brett Bothwell posted a season-high 53 saves.

Niagara will visit Wayne State next weekend, Feb. 16-17.

WSU CAPTAINS
Jason Bloomingburg, Mike Forgie

WSU ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Nate Higgins, Taylor Donohoe