Blackburn returns to Maize and Blue

Former Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn is returning to the Wolverines as a volunteer assistant coach.

Blackburn will work primarily with the U-M goaltenders - junior Billy Sauer and freshmen Bryan Hogan and Shawn Hunwick. Blackburn became a goaltending consultant after he retired from professional hockey at the end of the 2004-05 season. He has operated his own goaltending school in southeast Michigan for the past year.

A four-year starter for the Maize and Blue from 1999-2002, Blackburn backstopped the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA Frozen Four appearances in 2001 and 2002. In addition, he helped U-M win two CCHA regular season titles (2000, 2002) and two CCHA playoff crowns (1999, 2002). He was an All-CCHA second team selection in 2001 and a CCHA All-Rookie team honoree in 1999. He posted a career record of 92-37-20.

Blackburn ranks highly in numerous Michigan career goalie records: Goals against average (2.29, first), games played (151, second), shutouts (14, second), save percentage (.905, third) and wins (92, third).

After graduating in 2002, Blackburn spent the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons in the ECHL with the Augusta Lynx and the Columbia Inferno. He played the 2004-05 campaign with the CHL's Corpus Christi Rayz (pictured).

More changes for Wayne State women

The Wayne State Warriors women’s bench continues its transition as assistant coach Mare MacDougall has accepted a similar position on the St. Lawrence women’s hockey staff.

MacDougall joins the Saints after four seasons with the Green and Gold in Detroit.

She follows former Warriors associate head coach Grant Kimball, who also moved on to a new position, taking an assistant coach role with the North Dakota Fighting Sioux in late May.

Wayne State head coach Jim Fetter has countered by hiring recent Niagara graduate Alison Rutledge (pictured) as an assistant. It’s the first coaching position for Rutledge, but she’s very familiar with the conference having backstopped the Purple Eagles in 115 career games.

Wayne State will begin their season with an exhibition game against York University in Toronto on Friday, September 28.

Photo courtesy of Niagara University Athletics Department

College Hockey Faceoff coming to Palace

Updated 9-20-2007- College hockey makes its return to the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday, January 19, 2007 with a doubleheader featuring traditional conference foes.

The action begins at 3:30 with the Wayne State Warriors facing off with the back-to-back CHA regular season champ Niagara Purple Eagles.

The Purps dominated last season’s series with the Green and Gold, going 4-1-1.

"I think it will be great venue for our game," said Warriors head coach Bill Wilkinson. "It's an NHL-type of building that will give the players a chance to feel that they are playing in a professional setting. It should be a positive atmosphere for a college showcase weekend. We are looking forward to playing the Niagara Purple Eagles at the Palace."

Saturday’s nightcap will be rematch of last year’s CCHA title game with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish battling the Michigan Wolverines.

Last season, the Irish won all three meetings with the Maize and Blue.

Tickets for the College Hockey Faceoff can be purchased at Palacenet.com, the Palace box office or any Ticketmaster location.