Jan. 11, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WARRIORS HOST MAINE: The Wayne State University women's hockey team continues its six-game home stand with a series against the University of Maine (Jan. 11&12). Maine leads the series with a perfect 8-0-0 record winning the last meeting, 4-3, Nov. 7, 2004. The Warriors enter the contest with a 3-3-2 mark in home contests this season.

SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS: Maine is a member of Hockey East. The Black Bears enter this weekend's series with a 1-16-1 (0-6-2 Hockey East) record. Sophomore Taryn Peacock and junior Vanessa Vani lead the team offensively with nine points (three goals, six assists each). Maine is under the direction of head coach Dan Litchterman who is in his first season.

POYTON AND VANDERHOEVEN EARN PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS: Junior forward Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) and junior defenseman Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors) were named College Hockey America (CHA) Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season respectively. Poyton recorded three points on two goals and an assist in WSU's 3-3 tie with fourth-ranked Minnesota on Sunday (Jan. 6). She assisted on the first goal of the game and, after the Warriors fell behind 2-1, scored the next two goals to put WSU ahead. She tied for game-high honors with seven shots on goal and earned No. 1 star of the game honors. Vanderhoeven assisted on the Warriors' short-handed goal on Saturday (Jan. 5) and scored the first goal of Sunday's 3-3 overtime draw versus Minnesota earning No. 3 star accolades. She also assisted on WSU's next goal which tied the game at two as WSU recorded its third tie against a ranked opponent in school history. She was even (plus/minus rating) for the weekend series against the Golden Gophers.

FOLLOW WSU HOCKEY ON TEAMLINE: All 10 WSU remaining home women's hockey games can be heard via Teamline for free. You can access Teamline at http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=4820 in order to listen live to the audio webcast.

FOUR OR MORE: WSU holds an 8-0-0 record when scoring four or more goals in a game.

HIGH POWERED OFFENSE: The Warriors are second in the conference and sixth in the country in scoring offense with 52 goals (3.71 g/gm).

RINK REWIND: WSU opened the New Year with a 6-3 setback and 3-3(OT) tie against No. 4 Minnesota. In game one (Jan. 5), Minnesota's special teams proved to be too much for the Warriors as the Golden Gophers built a quick 4-0 first period lead on three power-play goals along with a short-handed tally. U-M added two power-play goals to finish 5-of-11 for the game. The Warriors' three goals also were the first allowed by a Minnesota opponent in its last four games. Wayne State got goals from sophomores Katrina Protopapas (Chatham, Ont./Bluewater Hawks) and Tegan Schroeder (Lumsden, Sask./Notre Dame Hounds) along with junior Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Radiers). Schroeder also added an assist to earn No. 3 star of the game accolades.

The game two 3-3 tie (Jan. 6) marked only the third time in the program's history that WSU has tied a nationally ranked opponent. The Warriors tied both #7 Princeton and #5 Mercyhurst, 2-2, during the 2005-06 season. Junior Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) led the way for WSU with two goals and an assist to earn No. 1 star of the game honors. Vanderhoeven also notched a goal and assist from her blueline position earning No. 3 star accolades. Junior Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) added two assists while Boal and sophomore Brandi Frankie (St. Louis Park, Minn./Minnesota Thoroughbreds) also notched an assist each.

FRANCK MAKES COACHING DEBUT: Recently hired assistant coach Nicolette Franck made her head coaching debut against #4 Minnesota. Franck, a former goaltender at Yale University, handled coaching duties while head coach Jim Fetter served as an assistant coach for Hockey Canada's Under-18 team. The Warriors went 0-1-1 against the Golden Gophers marking only the third time in the program's history that WSU has tied a nationally ranked opponent. She will also coach the team against Maine (Jan. 11-12).

BOWERS JOINS TEAM: Redshirt junior Sammi Bowers (Littleton, Colo./Colorado Selects) joined the Warriors this month after transferring from North Dakota. Last season, Bowers played 35-of-36 games, tied for the team lead in goals (5) and points (8) and also led the squad with three power-play goals. She also set the Fighting Sioux single-season mark with 106 penalty minutes.

POYTON SETS SCHOOL RECORD: Poyton set a school record with a 12-game point streak Oct. 19-Nov. 24 eclipsing her own mark of 11 set during the 2006 season. The streak ended on Jan. 5, 2008 against #4 Minnesota.

WARRIOR FRONT LINE AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: Members of WSU's top scoring line are ranked nationally in many offensive categories. Boal ranks first on the team accumulating 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) and leads the nation in points-per-game (2.33, 35 total) and goals-per-game (1.33, 20 total). She also is sixth in assists per game (1.00, 15 total) and tied at 10th in power-play goals (.33 ppg, 5 total). Poyton is tied for second in the nation in power-play goals (.44, seven total), ranks third in goals-per-game (1.12, 18 total) and game-winning goals (6 total) and fourth in points-per-game (2.19, 35 total). She also is fifth in assists-per-game (1.06, 17 total). Poyton leads the team with 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists). DiPietro leads the country in assists-per-game (1.69, 27 total) and is tied for fifth in points-per-game (2.00, 32 total). She is third on the team with 32 points (five goals, 27 assists).