Warriors and Chargers to Continue Rivalry
Wayne State and Alabama-Huntsville will conclude its regular-season series on Dec. 28-29 in Huntsville. The Warriors recorded a win (4-3) and a tie (3-3 OT) on Dec. 7-8 at home.
WSU vs. Alabama-Huntsville
Wayne State is unbeaten in its last three games (2-0-1) against UAH but still trails in the all-time series at 3-7-1. WSU has a 1-4 mark in Huntsville with the lone win coming in the 2001 CHA Championship Game (4-1 on March 10).
Wayne State University Head Coach Bill Wilkinson
Bill Wilkinson, the only head coach in the three-year history of men’s hockey at Wayne State University, is in his 20th season as a collegiate head coach.
Last year, Wilkinson led the Warriors to 12 more victories than the inaugural season, and the CHA tournament crown. The three-time Central Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year, has compiled an overall coaching record of 342-346-60. The 342 victories places him 34th on the NCAA all-time win list.
Assistant Coaches
Both full-time assistant coaches, Danny Brooks and Willie Mitchell, plus volunteer coach, Cal McGowan, have each been with the program since its inception. Brooks worked with Coach Wilkinson at Western Michigan, while Mitchell served as an assistant at Michigan State.
Collins Earns League Honor
Wayne State freshman center Billy Collins has been selected College Hockey America Rookie of the Week for his performance in the Warriors three-point weekend against first place Alabama-Huntsville. He had a goal and an assist in Friday’s 4-3 victory, and scored the game-tying goal with 22 seconds left in regulation on Saturday.
Last Games
Wayne State rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Alabama-Huntsville Chargers, 4-3 on Dec. 7. The following night, WSU again came from behind to tie UAH (3-3 OT).
The Warriors scored four straight goals in the Friday contest after falling behind 2-0. Billy Collins had a goal and an assist, while Dave Guerrera made 30 saves. On Dec. 8, Collins scored the game-tying goal with 22 seconds left in regulation. Tyler Kindle led WSU with a goal and an assist as the Warriors scored all three of their goals on the power play.
Penalty Killing
The Wayne State penalty killing units had its streak snapped at 25 consecutive kills when Alabama-Huntsville scored a power-play goal on Friday. UAH went three-for-nine on Friday and two-for-13 on Saturday with the man-advantage.
Whistles Blowing
Wayne State set a season-high for penalties on Friday with 13, then eclipsed that mark with 14 on Saturday.
Close Games
Eight of Wayne State's last nine games have been decided by two goals or less with the Warriors recording a 2-4-3 mark in those contests.
Kindle Continues Scoring Streak
Junior defenseman Tyler Kindle extended his point streak to five games with an assist on Friday and two points on Saturday. He now has nine points (5-4) in the last eight games. Kindle is tied with Tyler Butler (UAH) for the CHA goal-scoring lead among blueliner at six.
Power Play Prowess
The Warriors set a season-high with three power-play goals in Saturday's 3-3 (OT) tie versus Alabama-Huntsville. Wayne State has scored nine power-play goals in the last six matches.
On The Draw
Junior center Jason Durbin participated in 58 of the 115 face-offs Saturday night winning 30. His two most important wins set up Warrior goals by Tyler Kindle (late in the second period) and Billy Collins (with 22 seconds remaining in regulation). The 100th face-off of the Dec. 8 contest, that Durbin won, resulted in the game-tying goal by Collins.
CHA Statistical Update
Junior Dusty Kingston is tied-for-second in goals with nine and tied for 21st in points at 13. Durbin is tied-for-third in power-play goals with five, tied-for-third in power-play points with 10, and is tied-for-eighth in assists with 11. Junior Nick Shrader is second in game-winning goals with three. Junior netminder Dave Guerrera is second in save percentage (.890) and third in goals-against average (3.61).
2001-02 Schedule
The Warriors schedule features four games (two home, two away) against each of the other five members of College Hockey America plus 14 non-conference contests.
The seven non-league series includes home matches against CCHA members Ferris State and Lake Superior, Western Collegiate Hockey Association member Michigan Tech, plus a home-and-home series with Bowling Green. The three road series are at Wisconsin of the WCHA, and Ohio State and Northern Michigan of the CCHA.
A complete copy of this week's game notes is also available in PDF.
