Feb. 17, 2003

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2002-03 - GAMES 31 & 32

WAYNE STATE MEN'S HOCKEY (14-14-2, 7-5-2 CHA)
at Niagara (11-15-4, 7-3-4 CHA)
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 21-22 * Niagara University, N.Y.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:

Arena -- Dwyer Arena (1,600)
Surface -- 200' x 85'
Face-off -- 7:05 p.m.
Site -- Niagara University, New York
Series Record -- Wayne State leads 10-0-1

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team, which has an 8-3-2 record in 2003, will visit College Hockey America rival Niagara University for two league games this Friday and Saturday. NU leads the Warriors by two points (18-16) for second place in the CHA.

Wayne State lost two road games, 4-0 and 8-2, at first place Alabama-Huntsville this past Saturday and Sunday.

The Warriors won three of four points from the Purple Eagles in Detroit with an overtime tie (2-2) and a win (5-2) on January 31-February 1.

Following the NU series, Wayne State will have four games left in the regular season, all league contests. The three home games feature Air Force (Feb. 28-March 1) and Findlay (March 7), while the lone road game is at Findlay (March 8).

INTERVIEW POLICIES

Media representatives should contact the Sports Information Office for all player and coach interviews. Players and coaches may be interviewed prior to or directly after practice during the season, but requests must be made through the Sports Information Office ahead of time.

THE COACHES

WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson, a 1970 graduate of St. Lawrence, has a 65-55-11 mark in his fourth season as the Warriors bench boss. His overall varsity collegiate record stands at 378-356-64 in his 21st season. His 378 victories rank him tied-for-27th on the NCAA all-time win list.

Dave Burkholder was an assistant coach when the Niagara program began for the 1996-97 season. He is in his second season as head coach.

THE SERIES

The Warriors hold a 10-0-1 advantage over the Purple Eagles after a tie (2-2 OT) and win (5-2) in Detroit on January 31-February 1. WSU is 4-0-0 at Niagara in the all-time series.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State received all five possible first-place votes in the College Hockey America Coaches Preseason poll. Niagara was fourth in the CHA Coaches Preseason poll with 13 points.

SCOUTING NIAGARA

The Purple Eagles are 6-2-2 in their last 10 games to improve to 11-15-4.

Junior forward Joe Tallari leads the team in goals (22) and points (42) and is tied with sophomore Barrett Ehgoetz (12-21--33) for team-high honors in power-play goals (7). Freshman Brian Hartman (2-10--12) is NU's top-scoring blueliner.

Freshman Jeff VanNyatten (5-7-3, 3.63, .880) has started 17 games, while junior Rob Bonk (6-7-1, 2.85, .900) has started 13 games with two shutouts.

Niagara's power play has converted 32 times in 169 opportunities (18.9%), while stopping 124 of its opponents 145 chances (85.5%).

ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE SERIES NOTES

Wayne State lost 4-0 on Feb. 15 at Alabama-Huntsville to fall six points behind the league-leading Chargers.

Midway through the first period UAH's Jason Tinwick netted his third of the campaign for the game-winning goal. In the second period with UAH's Jared Ross off for interference, the Chargers Jason Hawes scored a short-handed goal, his fourth goal of the year. UAH increased its lead to 3-0 at the 1:28 mark of the third period as Craig Bushey scored his sixth goal of the season.

The game's final goal came off the stick of Steve Charlebois during a four-on-four situation 3:07 into the final period.

Wayne State goaltender David Guerrera finished the contest with 21 saves, while UAH netminder Scott Munroe stopped all 31 Warrior shots.

The Warriors were blanked in seven power-play chances, while the Chargers were zero-for-five with the man-advantage.

WSU lost for the second consecutive night at Alabama-Huntsville. In the Feb. 16 contest, UAH jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Warriors tallied the next two goals. The host Chargers scored four times in the third period for the 8-2 win.

UAH scored first when Jared Ross lit the lamp with 1:48 remaining in the first period for his 11th of the season. Joel Bresciani and Bruce Mulherin netted short-handed goals 58 seconds apart early in the second period to give the hosts a 3-0 lead. Bresciani added a power-play goal at the 6:52 mark for a 4-0 Charger lead.

The Warriors rallied as Jack Redwood scored his 11th of the year at the 10:55 mark off an assist from Maxim Starchenko.

Freshman Derek MacKay recorded his eighth of the year at the 12:03 mark from senior Jason Durbin.

Ross scored a power-play goal at 3:52 of the third period, while Tyler Butler (9:44) and Todd Bentley (10:31) scored five-on-five goals 47 seconds apart. Ryan Brown completed the scoring with his second of the year with 2:47 left in the game.

WSU senior goalie David Guerrera allowed four goals on 16 shots, while Matt Kelly also allowed four goals on 16 shots. UAH netminder Mark Byrne made 38 saves on 40 shots including 21 stops in the third period.

The Wayne State power play went zero-for-11 in the game and allowed two short-handed goals. The WSU penalty killing units allowed two goals in Huntsville's five man-advantage opportunities.