Dec. 19, 2005

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GAME STORYLINES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team (3-9-2, 1-4-1 CHA), winner of three of its last four contests, returns to the ice on Dec. 30 following a 19-day layoff.

WSU faces Northern Michigan in the first semifinal of the Badger Showdown, while host Wisconsin plays Western Michigan in the nightcap. UW will play the late game on Dec. 31 regardless of the outcome of day one.

In three previous holiday tournament appearances, WSU has placed first once (2000 UConn/SNET Classic) and second twice (2002 Rensselaer and 2003 North Dakota Subway Classic).

The Warriors swept visiting Merrimack College (3-2, 6-5 OT) on Dec. 9-10 at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in their last games before exams and the holiday break.

BEHIND THE BENCH

Bill Wilkinson is in his seventh season as Wayne State's head coach and his 24th year as a collegiate head coach. Wilkinson's overall record stands at 411-409-73, while his mark at WSU is 98-108-20.

Northern Michigan's Walt Kyle has a 74-52-14 record in his fourth season at his alma mater. Kyle will miss the Badger Showdown while serving as head coach for the U.S. National Junior Team.

Mike Eaves, a 1978 Wisconsin graduate, has compiled a 72-52-18 mark in his fourth year with the Badgers.

Western Michigan's Jim Culhane has a record of 104-122-26 in seven seasons at his alma mater.

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Wayne State trails the all-time series 0-4-0 against Northern Michigan. The squads meet later this year (Feb. 3-4) in Marquette.

Wayne State split a series (Oct. 19-20, 2001) versus the Badgers, winning 5-4 the first night before falling 5-0 the next day.

WSU has never played Western Michigan.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was tabbed for third in College Hockey America. Northern Michigan was voted third in both the CCHA Coaches and Media Preseason polls, while Western Michigan was 12th in the coaches and 10th in the media polls. Wisconsin was selected second in the WCHA/Grand Forks Herald Preseason poll.

ON THIS DATE

WSU is 1-0 all-time on Dec. 30 after a 5-4 overtime win over Connecticut in the title game of the 2001 UConn/SNET Classic, the longest game in WSU history.

NOTES

Mike Forgie had his first career game-winning goal in the series finale against Merrimack. Forgie also scored WSU's first goal on Saturday, helping him record his first collegiate multiple-goal game.

Steve Kovalchik scored a power-play goal in game two vs. MC, giving him seven of his nine career goals on the man-advantage. Kovalchik leads the squad with 12 points after recording three consecutive two-point games.

Jason Bloomingburg extended his goal-scoring streak to three games by scoring each night against Merrimack. He had two four-game goal-scoring streaks last year.

Wayne State has a 14-8-20 mark in overtime contests in the program's seven-year history.

WSU scored four power-play goals in the MC series finale after scoring four man-advantage markers in the previous five games. The four ppg in one game is also a school record.

WSU has scored 19 goals in the last four games after scoring 15 in the first 10 games.

The Warriors have scored six goals in each of their last two Saturday contests.

Nate Higgins had an assist in the first game and a goal and an assist the next day to extend his point streak to four games, tying a personal best.

Freshman defenseman Matt Krug assisted on WSU's first goal in game one and had three helpers in game two extending his assist streak to four games.

Wayne State's win in the series finale against Merrimack marked the first time this year, that WSU won when the opponent scored first.