Feb. 17, 2004

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2003-04 - Games 29 & 30

WSU MEN'S HOCKEY (6-20-2, 2-12-0 CHA)
vs. Findlay (6-20-4, 3-10-1 CHA)
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 21-22 - Findlay, Ohio-Plymouth, Mich.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:

Arenas -- Clauss Ice Arena (1,200)/Compuware Sports Arena (4,000)
Surface -- 200' x 85'
Face-off -- 7:05 p.m./2:05 p.m. Eastern
Sites -- Findlay, Ohio/Plymouth, Mich.
Series Record -- Wayne State leads 14-4-1

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team will face a familiar foe, the Findlay Oilers, for the final regular-season time this weekend. UF is dropping its hockey programs (men's and women's) to club status this summer.

The Warriors will try to end a school-record eight-game losing streak Saturday at Findlay (7:05 p.m.). WSU also attempt to snap a nine-game home losing streak on Sunday (2:05 p.m.). Wayne State's last home triumph was 3-2 over Findlay in a non-conference affair on Oct. 16.

Following the Oiler series, the Warriors play a two-game CHA series at Alabama-Huntsville (Feb. 28-29). Wayne State wraps-up the regular season at home versus the U.S. Air Force Academy on March 5-6.

The CHA quarterfinals will take place on Friday, March 12 at the Tri-City Arena in Kearney, Neb.

THE COACHES

WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson is in his fifth season as the Warrior bench boss. He has a 78-78-13 record at WSU with an overall collegiate head coaching mark of 391-379-66 in his 22nd season.

Pat Ford has compiled a 6-20-4 record in his first year as a collegiate head coach.

THE SERIES

Wayne State leads 14-4-1 in the all-time series. The home team won each of the first two games this season (WSU 3-2 on Oct. 16 and UF 6-3 on Oct. 24), both non-league. In the CHA contests, the road team won each game (WSU 3-2 OT on Nov. 14 and UF 6-5 on Nov. 16). Wayne State is 7-2-0 at home against the Oilers and 6-2-1 in Ohio. WSU also won the lone neutral site meeting.

IN THE POLLS

The Warriors were selected fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches poll after finishing tied-for-third in 2002-03. Findlay was picked fifth in the conference by the CHA coaches.

SCOUTING FINDLAY

The Oilers are 1-5-1 in their last seven games.

Junior forward Kris Wiebe (13-3--16) leads the team in goals and points. Freshman forward Mike Batovanja (4-10--14) and senior defenseman Nate Markus (2-10--12) are tied for the team lead in assists. Freshman Will Hooper (5-12-2, 2.93., 907) has started 19 games, while sophomore Jon Horrell (1-8-2, 3.18, .909) has started the other 11 games.

UF's power play has scored 14 times in 132 opportunities (10.6%), while the penalty-killing units have stopped 147 of 177 (83.1%) opponent chances.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN RECAP

Wayne State had its losing streak extended to eight games with two losses, 4-1 and 5-2, against CCHA member Northern Michigan.

Before the largest home crowd of the season, and the eighth largest home crowd in the program's five-year history, WSU battled the CCHA's Northern Michigan University Wildcats nearly even for over 50+ minutes but fell 4-1 on Friday, Feb. 13.

In a pre-game ceremony, the 2003 College Hockey America tournament champions and NCAA Regional participants received their championship rings.

An inspired 2003-04 WSU squad was outshot 14-8 in the opening period, but trailed just 1-0 on a rebound goal by Geoff Waugh.

Northern Michigan outshot the Warriors 8-5 in the middle stanza but only managed a power-play goal on a deflection by Pat Bateman.

Just past the mid-point of the third period and only 10 seconds into a Wayne State power play Matt Boldt's blueline shot was deflected past NMU netminder Craig Kowalski by Travis Rycroft for his third goal of the season. Steve Kovalchik also garnered an assist on the Warriors' lone goal of the contest.

The one-goal deficit remained for just 67 seconds until Alex Sawruk netted NMU's second power-play goal of the contest. Matt Hunter completed the scoring with an even-strength marker at the 15:06 mark.

WSU senior goaltender Marc Carlson (Hingham, Mass./Chicago Freeze) made 32 saves including two double-digit period totals. Kowalski stopped 25 of the Warriors 26 shots. Wayne State scored one power-play goal in seven chances, while the Wildcats had two man-advantage tallies in six opportunities.

The next night, Wayne State concluded the non-conference portion of its 2003-04 schedule with a 5-2 loss to Northern Michigan.

NMU scored 1:48 into the contest on a goal by Matt Hunter. Zach Tarkir made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at the 12:28 mark. Wayne State had a 9-8 advantage in shots on goal during the opening period.

In the middle stanza, NMU outshot the Warriors 13-8 and outscored the hosts 3-1. Nathan Oystrick netted a power-play goal at the 13:32 mark and Rob Lehtinen added an even-strength goal just 61 seconds later.

Hunter completed the Wildcat scoring with a power-play goal at the 19:35 mark of the second period.

Warrior Greg Poupard scored his second goal of the campaign just six seconds into a Wayne State power play. Steve Kovalchik and freshman Nate Higgins assisted on WSU's first goal of the game.

Wayne State held an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal during the final period and scored the lone goal. Matt Boldt scored his first collegiate goal with a blast from the blueline just five seconds into a power play. After Billy Collins won the draw to Chris Vail, Vail fed Kovalchik on the blueline setting up Boldt's one-timer.

WSU senior goaltender Marc Carlson made 20 saves, while NMU netminder Craig Kowalski finished with 23 saves as both squads had 25 shots on goal. Wayne State went two-for-eight with the man-advantage, while the Wildcats scored three power-play goals in nine opportunities. Over one period (25:36) of the game was spent with one team on the power play.