March 8, 2007

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GAME STORYLINES
The Wayne State men's hockey team (12-20-2, 8-10-2 CHA) travels to Des Moines, Iowa, for the College Hockey America Tournament this weekend, March 9-11.

The Warriors, who are 8-3 all-time in the tournament, are looking to end a three-game postseason skid.

Wayne State will face fifth seed Alabama-Huntsville (10-19-3, 7-11-2 CHA) on Friday at 8:00 p.m. ET. The winner will battle CHA regular-season champion Niagara on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

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 426-443-79, while his mark at WSU is 111-142-26.

In 25 seasons at UAH, Doug Ross has a record of 451-268-43. His 28-year overall record is 507-303-45.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
Alabama-Huntsville leads the all-time series, 20-13-3, including a 2-2-0 split with Wayne State this season. The Warriors are 3-1 in CHA Tournament meetings with the Chargers.

IN THE POLLS
WSU was selected to finish fifth in the College Hockey America preseason coaches poll, while Alabama-Huntsville was tabbed for fourth.

ON THIS DATE
Wayne State has played only once on March 9 in its history, resulting in a 3-2 overtime victory against Niagara in the CHA Semifinals in 2001.

SCOUTING ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE
The Chargers are unbeaten in their last three games, earning a 4-3 victory Feb. 17 at Bemidji State before closing out the regular season with a 3-1 win and a 2-2 overtime tie against Niagara last weekend.

UAH's records this season are almost the inverse of its marks a year ago (19-13-2, 12-7-1 CHA in 2005-06).

Alabama-Huntsville's power-play percentage (19.3) ranks 15th in the nation. Its penalty-kill mark of 76.8, however, ranks last (59th).

Senior forward David Nimmo leads the squad with 31 points and 19 assists, while classmate Grant Selinger has team-highs in goals (15) and power-play goals (8). Selinger's totals rank fourth and second, respectively, in the league.

All three UAH goaltenders have seen playing time this year, the majority going to junior Marc Narduzzi (6-15-2, 3.72 GAA, .888 SV%). Sophomore Jordan Erickson (1-3-1, 4.73, .847) and freshman Blake MacNicol (3-1-0, 2.31, .917) have 10 starts between them this season. MacNicol earned his first career victory Feb. 9 at Wayne State.

WSU NOTES
Wayne State extended its unbeaten streak to a nation-leading seven games with two wins at Robert Morris last weekend. The Warriors won all four meetings with the Colonials this season.

The Warriors have at least one power-play goal in each of their last seven games, posting a percentage of 29.3 during their unbeaten streak.

With 12 victories, WSU doubled its win total from a year ago (6-23-6).

Over the first 16 games of the season, Wayne State averaged 1.88 goals per game, posted a 3-13 record, and was shut out six times. In the last 18 games, WSU averaged 3.56 goals per game with a record of 9-7-2.

Senior forward Nate Higgins had a five-point weekend, including his second four-point game of the season (two goals, two assists) in Friday's 5-2 win.

Senior goaltender Will Hooper totaled 30 saves on Friday to remain unbeaten (3-0-1) in his last four starts. He has a 1.23 goals-against average and a .949 save percentage in that span.

Jared Katz scored the game-winner in Saturday's 5-4 victory. He leads all CHA rookies with 11 goals and is second with 22 points.

Senior Dan Iliakis recorded three assists at RMU, including two on Saturday for his sixth multiple-point game of the season. He is tied-for-second with UAH's Mike Salekin (5-15--20) among league defensemen in points (4-16--20).

WSU CAPTAINS
Jason Bloomingburg, Mike Forgie

WSU ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Nate Higgins, Taylor Donohoe