March 4, 2005

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2004-05 - GAMES 33 & 34

WAYNE STATE HOCKEY (13-15-4, 6-8-4 CHA)
vs. Alabama-Huntsville (16-8-4, 13-4-1 CHA)
Saturday-Sunday, March 5-6 - 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 - Alabama-Huntsville leads 13-10-2

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team will conclude the 2004-05 regular season with two home contests against the University of Alabama-Huntsville this Saturday (3:05 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.) at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth.

The Warriors ended their seven-game (0-6-1) winless streak with a win (5-1) and a tie (3-3 OT) versus the Air Force Academy last weekend. Jason Bloomingburg scored twice on Saturday to tie the school record for goals in a season. In Sunday's draw, WSU rallied for two third period goals after falling behind 3-1.

WSU has clinched at least fourth place in the College Hockey America standings and trails third place Niagara by two points. The Chargers are currently in second place, one point behind league-leader Bemidji State.

With the top two seeds earning quarterfinal round byes, the third and fourth seeds will be designated as the home teams for their quarterfinal match-ups (#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 either game this weekend.

In this week's NCAA statistical report, Jason Bloomingburg is tied-for-17th in goals per game (.58) with 18 goals in 31 games. Goalie Matt Kelly is 20th in save percentage (.920) with 594 saves on 646 shots.

THE COACHES

Wayne State's Bill Wilkinson is 25th in NCAA history with 407 career wins. He is in his sixth season at WSU and 23rd season overall.

Doug Ross, a Dearborn native, is in the top 15 on the NCAA all-time win list.

THE SERIES

Wayne State trails 10-13-2 in the all-time series and has a 3-6-1 mark at home against the Chargers. UAH has won the last three meetings in Detroit.

IN THE POLLS

WSU was selected fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches' poll, while Alabama-Huntsville was picked for third in the CHA.

SCOUTING ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE

The Chargers have played the last four games on the road compiling a 3-1 mark including a split at Bemidji State and a sweep at Robert Morris.

Junior forward Bruce Mulherin leads the squad in goals (24), points (39) and power-play goals (11). Senior center Jared Ross has 38 points on 21 goals and 17 assists.

Junior Scott Munroe (15-8-4, 2.20, .932) has started 26 of UAH's 28 games and has three shutouts.

UAH's power play has scored 37 times in 172 chances (21.5%), while allowing 33 goals in 201 opponent man-advantage opportunities (83.6%).

AIR FORCE RECAP

Wayne State ended its seven-game winless streak with a victory (5-1) and tie (3-3 OT) against visiting Air Force last weekend.

The Warriorpower play, which had converted just once in 27 opportunities over the four previous games, accounted for two goals and Wayne State scored its eighth short-handed goal of the season in Saturday's triumph.

The first period was evenly played with Air Force holding a 12-11 advantage in shots on goal but the Warriors led 1-0 on Adam Krug's second short-handed goal of the year. His 10th of the season came just 10 seconds into a Falcon power play and was assisted by Stavros Paskaris and Taylor Donohoe.

Early in the second period on a WSU man-advantage, Donohoe kept the puck in at the right point and fed Paskaris in the high slot, his initial shot was stopped by Harper but Paskaris was able to slide in the rebound.

The Warriors increased their lead to 3-0 at the 8:59 mark as Mike Forgie scored off a rebound of a Mark Bradshaw shot. John May started the scoring play by intercepting an Air Force pass in the neutral zone.

Jason Bloomingburg's even-strength marker 2:21 into the third period came after Tylor Michel stole the puck behind the Falcon cage and fed Bloomingburg.

The Falcons took advantage of a five-on-three power play as Brandon Merkosky scored on a rebound from just outside the crease at the 5:43 mark.

Bloomingburg tied the school record for goals in a season (18 set by Dustin Kingston in 2000-01) as he was the recipient of a cross-ice pass to the backdoor by Paskaris during a Wayne State power play.

WSU goaltender Matt Kelly stopped 27 shots, while Harper made 31 saves. Each team had six power-play chances with the Warriors scoring twice to the Falcons' one.

Wayne State equaled the school record for ties in a season by rallying for two goals in the final nine minutes in a 3-3 overtime draw with visiting Air Force on Sunday afternoon.

A defensive first period in which the teams combined for just 14 shots on goal resulted in a scoreless game after 20 minutes. The Falcons grabbed a 1-0 lead 5:49 into the middle stanza when Brian Reese netted a power-play goal.

Wayne State tied the score at the 8:50 mark when Paskaris scored his 10th of the campaign off an assist from Jason Baclig.

Air Force regained the lead at the 19:53 mark of the second period on a face-off goal. Brandon Merkosky won the draw and Andrew Ramsey fired the puck past a screened Will Hooper. USAFA increased its lead to 3-1 8:36 into the third period as Seth Pelletier lifted a rebound over Hooper.

The Warriors pulled within one at the 11:24 mark as Taylor Donohoe scored his first goal of the season from just outside the crease during a scramble in front of Falcon goalie Peter Foster. Mark Nebus and Baclig assisted on Donohoe's second career goal in 68 games.

WSU scored the equalizer as Krug ripped a shot over Foster's glove on a breakaway. Bloomingburg started the scoring play with a pass to Michel. Michel's outlet pass bounced off a Falcon defenseman to Krug.

Both Hooper and Foster made two saves during the five-minute sudden-death overtime period. Foster finished with 26 stops, while Hooper turned aside 23 Air Force shots. The Falcons went one-for-five on the power play, with WSU being unsuccessful in its lone man-advantage opportunity.