WSU officially back home at Fairgrounds

Article by MichiganCollegeHockey Editor Matt Mackinder

Wayne State University director of athletics Rob Fournier announced today the Warrior men's hockey team will play its home games for the next three seasons at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum starting this fall.

"As we continue to look for that `home' away from campus, the Coliseum at the Fairgrounds offers us proximity, a classic venue and familiarity," said Fournier. "Hopefully our fans will quickly transition back to the Fairgrounds to create the atmosphere a top-tier college program should play before."

WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson begins his seventh season behind the Warrior bench in the same arena Wayne State hosted its first hockey game, the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. The inaugural home game was Nov. 5, 1999 - an 8-4 loss to Western Ontario.

"We are excited to be back at the Fairgrounds," commented Wilkinson. "The Coliseum has a great aura. It will be nice to practice and play at the same building. Hopefully this location will allow our students to attend on a more regular basis. Playing in a centrally located arena will be a bonus for our fans in metro Detroit."

After playing its inaugural campaign at the Coliseum, WSU played the next three seasons at the Great Lakes Sports City Arena in Fraser followed by two seasons at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth. The third season in Fraser also saw WSU play two homes game at Joe Louis Arena, Taylor SportsPlex and Compuware.

In addition to serving as the home arena for Warrior men's hockey in 2005-06, the Coliseum will be the site of the 2006 College Hockey America men's and women's conference tournaments March 9-12.

The first action for the men comes Oct. 4 as WSU hosts the Oakland University club team in an exhibition contest at 7:05 p.m.

CONFIRMED: WSU to Host CHA Tournaments

The Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum will be the host
for the 2006 CHA Men's and Women's hockey championships

College Hockey America and Wayne State University have announced that the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Detroit, Mich., will serve as the site for the 2006 CHA Championships for men and women, March 9-12.

The seventh annual men’s CHA Championship will get underway with quarterfinal games at 3:35 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. EST, Friday, March 10. The top two teams in the regular-season standings will receive byes into the semifinals, playing the quarterfinal winners at 3:35 p.m. and 7:35 p.m., Saturday, March 11.

The fourth annual women’s CHA Championship will begin with semifinal games Thursday, March 9, at 5:05 p.m. and 8:05 p.m. Both the men’s and women’s championship games will take place Sunday, March 12. The women’s championship is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. with the men’s title tilt set to get underway at 7:05 p.m.

This will mark the first time in college hockey history that a Division I men’s and women’s league will play their championship on the same weekend and at the same site. The event will take place at the historic, 5,600-seat Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Built in 1922,the arena was renovated in 1998 and served as the original home of Wayne State’s men’s and women’s hockey programs.

“It’s a great fit - the CHA Championship with Hockeytown,” Wayne State director of athletics Rob Fournier said. “As one of the few conferences that offers both men’s and women’s hockey, this opportunity to combine our championships offers a unique presentation that is perfect for the tradition-rich setting of Detroit.”

“Ever since the CHA expanded to include women’s hockey, the possibility of hosting the men’s and women’s tournament at the same site and on the same weekend posed an intriguing challenge,” CHA commissioner R.H. “Bob” Peters added. “Wayne State University, upon accepting the daunting task of hosting the first ever combined men’s and women’s hockey post-season conference tournament championships, exemplifies the spirit and commitment of the CHA regarding expansion and promotion of Division I men’s and women’s hockey."

WSU to host both CHA tourneys

According to a story on Inside College Hockey, Wayne State will host both CHA Tournaments (men's and women's) next March at the State Fairgrounds Coliseum in Detroit.

Wayne State played at the Coliseum during their inaugural 1999-2000 season.

The arena holds 5,500 and would be an ideal spot for the six-team tournament the weekend of March 9-12.

The men's tournament was staged in Grand Rapids, Minn., this season and has also been held in Kearney, Neb., and on the campuses of CHA members Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville.

The women's tournament was held on Mercyhurst's campus this year, Niagara last year and at the City Sports Arena in Detroit in 2003.

Both tournament finals would ideally be played on the same day as a doubleheader, the INCH story adds, as CSTV would broadcast both.

Wayne State personnel would not comment.

Check out the INCH scoop here.