Feb. 22, 2005

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2004-05 - GAMES 31 & 32

WAYNE STATE HOCKEY (12-15-3, 5-8-3 CHA)
vs. Air Force (13-15-2, 5-11-0 CHA)
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 26-27 - 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 11-7-2

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team returns to action this Saturday and Sunday when the U.S. Air Force Academy visits the Compuware Sports Arena for two key College Hockey America contests.

The Feb. 27 game will be aired live by Comcast Local with announcers Ben Holden and Matt Williamson calling the action. The game will also be replayed on Monday, Feb. 28 (7 p.m.) and Tuesday, March 1 (2 p.m.).

The Warriors were idle last weekend and will try to stop their seven-game (0-6-1) winless streak dating back to a 4-1 win over Robert Morris on Jan. 22.

In its last action, Wayne State rallied for a 2-2 (OT) tie against visiting Niagara on Feb. 12, before dropping a 3-1 decision the next afternoon. Steve Kovalchik and Adam Krug scored in the draw, while Nate Higgins netted the lone Warrior marker in the setback.

WSU trails third place Niagara by five points and leads fifth place Air Force by three points. Following the series against the Falcons, Wayne State concludes the regular season with two home games against second place Alabama-Huntsville on March 5-6.

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.

The Wayne State University Department of Athletics is offering hockey fans the opportunity to buy one ticket and get a second ticket free just by wearing an NHL jersey (sweater) to any remaining WSU home game.

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.

Frank Serratore is in his eighth season at the helm of the Falcon hockey program and his 12th season as a collegiate head coach.

THE SERIES

Wayne State leads 11-7-2 in the all-time series, but the squads have split the previous eight meetings in greater Detroit, 4-4-0. The Falcons won twice in the Motor City last year, 6-4 and 3-1, in the final weekend of the regular season.

IN THE POLLS

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

SCOUTING AIR FORCE

The Falcons are 2-4-0 in their last six games.

Sophomore forward Brandon Merkosky leads USAFA in goals (12), assists (15), points (27) and power-play goals (8). The top four scorers are either freshmen or sophomores.

Sophomore Peter Foster (11-12-2, 2.52, .904) has started 24 games and has five shutouts.

AF's power play has scored 29 times in 190 chances (15.3%), while allowing 29 goals in 174 opponent man-advantage opportunities (83.3%).

NIAGARA RECAP

Wayne State recorded a tie (2-2 OT) and loss (3-1) to visiting Niagara University on Feb. 12-13.

The tie in the series opener was WSU's third this season, one shy of the single-season mark of four set during the 2001-02 campaign.

The Warriors began strong scoring just 38 seconds into the contest. Steve Kovalchik's one-timer beat NU goalie Jeff Van Nynatten. Kovalchik's sixth goal of the season was also his first even-strength goal of the year.

Neither team was able to score for over 34 minutes until NU's leading scorer Barret Ehgoetz picked up a loose puck and scored on a tough-angle shot.

Wayne State thought it had taken a 2-1 lead with 3:01 left in the middle stanza, but a dump in hit an official and bounced into the net.

Niagara went ahead 2-1 when Ryan Carrigan's wrister from the blueline went past a screened Matt Kelly.

With 6:39 remaining in the third period, NU's Tim Madsen was assessed a minor penalty. WSU used nearly the full two minutes before Adam Krug redirected Jason Bloomingburg's centering pass behind Van Nynatten.

Two-and-a-half minutes before Krug's game-tying goal, Warrior John May had blasted a shot that beat Van Nynatten but hit the post.

Both teams had quality scoring chances in the extra session. NU's Ryan Gale was stoned by Kelly with 2:35 left while Van Nynatten made a nice glove save on Krug with just 43 seconds remaining in overtime.

Kelly finished the contest with 24 saves including five in overtime. Van Nynatten made three of his 17 stops in the extra frame. WSU went one-for-five with the man-advantage while Niagara was zero-for-three.

In the series finale, the game was scoreless after 20 minutes despite the guests holding an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Warriors thought they had scored first with 9:06 left in the period but Jason Bloomingburg's apparent goal was waived off due to a hand pass in the offensive zone.

At the 2:31 mark of the second period Justin Cross banged in the rebound of a Tim Madsen shot giving the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead.

Niagara increased its lead to 2-0 just over two minutes later (4:43 mark) as Cross went glove side high on WSU goalie Matt Kelly.

NU's final goal came only 17 seconds into a five-on-three power play advantage. Matt Caruana took a redirection from Cliff Ketchen off a blueline shot by Trevor Mallon with 5:20 remaining in the middle stanza.

Wayne State prevented the shutout with 25 seconds left in the second period as Nate Higgins was on the doorstep and took a feed from Jason Baclig and scored past NU goalie Jeff Van Nynatten.

Both goalies finished with 26 saves and period totals of seven, eight and 11 (Kelly 11-8-7, Van Nynatten 7-11-8). Wayne State went zero-for-five on the power play, while Niagara went one-for-six.