Feb. 14, 2007

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GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State men's hockey team (8-20-0, 4-10-0 CHA) hosts 17th-ranked Niagara (17-10-3, 8-3-3 CHA) this weekend at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Both games are slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. This is the third series between these squads this season, but the first in Detroit.

Wayne State and Alabama-Huntsville split a pair at the Coliseum last weekend, as UAH defeated WSU, 3-1, on Friday before the Warriors earned a 4-1 victory the next night.

Niagara, idle last weekend, was swept at Robert Morris two weeks ago by scores of 7-1 and 5-2.

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 422-443-77, while his mark at WSU is 109-142-24.

Niagara's Dave Burkholder has spent his entire six-year head coaching career behind the Purple Eagles' bench, posting a record of 105-93-15.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Niagara, which has won all four games against Wayne State this season, holds a 15-13-3 lead in the all-time series. The Warriors have only defeated the Purple Eagles three times in the last 20 meetings since 2003 (3-15-2 in that span).

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

ON THIS DATE
Wayne State has played twice on Feb. 16 in its history, blanking Findlay, 6-0, in 2002 and falling, 8-2, at Alabama-Huntsville the following season.

On Feb. 17 last year, Niagara defeated Wayne State, 4-3, in Detroit.

SCOUTING NIAGARA
Niagara's pair of setbacks at Robert Morris two weeks ago marked only the third time this season the Purple Eagles lost back-to-back games.

Ted Cook (27-15--42) leads the nation in goals and power-play tallies (17). He is also at the top of the list of five Purple Eagles who lead the CHA in points, along with Les Reaney (15-27--42), Sean Bentivoglio (16-24--40), Chris Moran (5-29--34), and Matt Caruana (11-18--29).

Niagara's 20.0 power-play percentage ranks 13th in the country, while its 3.50 scoring average ranks ninth.

Sophomore netminder Juliano Pagliero (13-8-2, 2.92, .920) has started each of the last six games and 24 altogether this season. Senior Alan Barton (4-1-1, 3.79, .896) has played in nine games, starting five.

WSU NOTES
Alabama-Huntsville won last Friday's meeting, 3-1, while Wayne State earned a 4-1 victory the next night to split the season series, 2-2-0, and snap a three-game skid.

CHA Rookie of the Week Jared Katz has a point in nine of his last 11 games and leads all league rookies with eight goals on the season.

Katz' power-play goal on Saturday broke a three-game drought for the Warriors on the man-advantage. WSU is 1-13-0 this season when held scoreless on the power play.

Senior goaltender Will Hooper saved 17 of the 18 shots he faced on Saturday for his second win of the season. It also marked his first victory in league play since Jan. 21, 2006 versus Robert Morris, and the first time in his 13 starts this season he has held a team to less than two goals.

Jason Baclig netted the game-winner on Saturday, his first in a CHA game since Feb. 18, 2006 versus Niagara, and his 18th point of the season, which is a team-high.

Wayne State will play its final home series of the season against Bemidji State next weekend, Feb. 23-24, as part of a doubleheader with the WSU women's hockey team.

WSU CAPTAINS
Jason Bloomingburg, Mike Forgie

WSU ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Nate Higgins, Taylor Donohoe