GAME NOTES IN PDF FORMAT

GAME STORYLINES
For the first time since the 2009 College Hockey America tournament semifinals, the Wayne State University women's hockey team (6-9-3, 2-4-0 CHA) will meet Robert Morris University (5-15-1, 0-4-1 CHA) as the Warriors host the Colonials for a two-game series this weekend. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday at the City Sports Center in Detroit. Tom Balog will call the action for both games on Teamline.

Wayne State split its third straight series last weekend, defeating Vermont 5-2 on Friday before dropping a 2-1 decision on Saturday. Robert Morris has lost five in a row, having been swept at home last weekend by Connecticut by scores of 4-2 and 4-0.

Six of Wayne State's next eight games will be played in Detroit. After traveling to Quinnipiac for a non-conference series next weekend, the Warriors will host CHA foes Syracuse (Jan. 29-30) and Niagara (Feb. 12-13).


BEHIND THE BENCH
Jim Fetter is 106-93-21 in his seventh season at the helm of the WSU women's hockey program. He earned his third consecutive CHA Coach of the Year award two years ago in addition to being named the Women's Division I Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association. An assistant coach for Canada's National Women's Under-22 Team, Fetter missed the Vermont series as he traveled to Ravensburg, Germany for the 2010 MLP Cup, in which the Canadians won the gold medal.

Nate Handrahan is in his fourth season as RMU's head coach and has a career record of 40-79-7.


THROUGH THE YEARS
Wayne State leads the all-time series against Robert Morris, 16-2-0, dating back to 2006. A 1-0 shutout victory for the Colonials last Feb. 21 was their first versus the Warriors at the RMU Island Sports Center. RMU's only win in Detroit came Feb. 15, 2008, a 2-1 result. Wayne State's 4-3 overtime victory in last year's CHA semifinals was the longest game in the history of both the WSU and CHA women's programs (75:04).


IN THE POLLS
Robert Morris and Wayne State were predicted to finish second and third, respectively, in the 2009-10 CHA preseason coaches poll.

Hear coach Jim Fetter's thoughts on his trip to Germany with Hockey Canada, last weekend's series with Vermont and the upcoming games against Robert Morris in Wednesday's podcast.

SCOUTING ROBERT MORRIS
Highlights for Robert Morris early in the 2009-10 season include a 4-1 road victory over then fourth-ranked Minnesota-Duluth on Oct. 3 and a 3-1 win Nov. 6 at then sixth-ranked Wisconsin, the defending national champion. However, the Colonials have won just once in their last 12 games, a 3-1 result Nov. 28 against Rensselaer. In the dozen-game span, RMU has been outscored, 46-18, and shut out twice.

Sophomore Brianna Delaney (9-10--19) and junior Sara O'Malley (10-8--18) rank ninth and 10th, respectively, in the CHA in points. Five of Delaney's nine goals have come as part of an RMU power-play unit which ranks last in the league and 25th nationally. As a team, the Colonials are scoring an average of just 1.86 goals per game (29th in NCAA) while allowing 3.38 goals per game (33rd in NCAA).

Junior Daneca Butterfield has started 17 of RMU's 21 games and has a record of 5-11-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage.


LAST TIME OUT
In its first home game in two months, Wayne State defeated Vermont, 5-2, on Friday night at the City Sports Center. Katrina Protopapas scored twice, including her eighth power-play goal of the season, and Lauren Ragen finished with a pair of assists, her first career multiple-point game. Defenseman Jill Szandzik had a goal and two helpers for her first career three-point performance.

The Warriors, who were winless at home (0-3-1) coming into Friday's game, scored more than three goals for the first time since a 6-1 victory Oct. 31 at Bemidji State, and handed Vermont its eighth straight loss in the process.

After a scoreless first period, momentum began to build for the Warriors shortly after killing off a 5-on-3 Vermont power play. Protopapas broke the deadlock at 7:02 of the second and, on a power play less than 90 seconds later, Szandzik scored her third goal of the year.

Micheline Frappier scored her second game-winner of the season at 18:04, and Protopapas' power-play tally - her career-high ninth goal of the season - at 6:52 of the third period made it a 4-0 game.

The Catamounts would score twice within a five-minute span, but a short-handed empty-net goal by Alyssa Baldin sealed the win as time expired.

WSU came out of a penalty-laden game Saturday afternoon on the losing end, 2-1, to wrap up the series. A combined 21 penalties were called and, of the 55 total shots in the game, 41 were on power plays.

Vermont scored in each of the first two periods. A power-play marker early in the third by Chelsea Burnett made it a one-goal game, but Wayne State was unable to close the gap as UVM snapped its losing streak and earned its first victory (1-7-2) all-time against WSU.

On the weekend, Lindsey Park collected 44 saves and helped hold UVM's power-play to just 1-for-15.


WARRIORS MOVING UP RANKS
Several Warriors advanced up the charts in Wayne State's record book following last week's series against Vermont.

Protopapas took sole possession of eighth place in career points (22), eclipsing Monk and Kim Spaulding (2000-04). She is also eighth on WSU's single-season list for power-play goals, moving ahead of Lindsay DiPietro (2005-09) who had seven last year.

Burnett, who had a point in each game, has five points in the last six games and six in the last eight. Already Wayne State's all-time scoring leader among defensemen, she surpassed Laura Monk (2004-07) for fifth place on WSU's all-time points list (60). Burnett also claimed sole possession of fifth place in career power-play goals (9), passing Kelly Zamora (2001-05) and Tina Vanderhoeven (2005-09).

With her three points against UVM, Szandzik moved into a tie for eighth with Krissy Langley (2001-05) and a tie for ninth with Kristi Thome (2002-06) in career points and goals, respectively, among defensemen.

Baldin is tied for third in career short-handed goals (2), while Park surpassed Stacy Bowden (1999-2001) for sixth place in games played (22) and saves (544).

OH CANADA
Fetter was announced by Hockey Canada as an assistant coach for its National Women's Under-22 Team in June. He worked under Margot Page, the former head coach at Niagara University.

The 2009-10 season was Fetter's second in a row with the Under-22 Team, having won a silver medal at the 2009 MLP Cup in Ravensburg, Germany before earning gold this year. He was also an assistant coach with Canada's National Women's Under-18 Team during the 2007-08 season, winning a silver medal at the 2008 IIHF World Women's Under-18 Championship in Calgary.


HAPPY NEW YEAR
Wayne State has posted a winning record in the month of January each of the last four seasons. The Warriors were 5-2-1 in January last season, 6-1-1 two years ago and 4-3-1 in both 2007 and 2006.

Furthermore, the team has not posted a losing record in January since a 3-4-1 mark in 2003. WSU was 2-2-0 in 2005 and 4-4-1 in 2004.


CHANGING OF THE GUARD
With 11 letterwinners including nine forwards gone from last year, there are many fresh faces on this year's team - eight newcomers in all, seven of whom are freshmen. Of the 21 players on the roster, only five are upperclassmen (four seniors, one junior).

Julie Ingratta is tied for the team lead with 12 points, fourth-most among CHA rookies and 16th-most nationally among freshmen. Gina Buquet has 10 points, while Jenaya Townsend and Julie Hebert have six apiece.

The freshman class has accounted for 37 of Wayne State's 103 points (35.9 percent).


WSU HOCKEY NOTES
• Including last Friday, WSU has played to a 0-0 tie through the opening period 10 times this season.

• Protopapas leads the CHA and ranks second nationally in power-play goals.

• WSU is 2-4 in one-goal games.