Despite playing the 2008-09 season without their in-state rivals, the Wildcats renewed their hostilities this past weekend at the Kay Yeager Coliseum as though no time had ever passed. Each team won one game, with the Wildcats the 5-2 victors on Friday night, while the Tornado came back Saturday for a 3-2 win.On Friday, the Wildcats went 10 for 10 on the penalty kill, including killing off two different two-man advantages that each lasted a minute en route to a 5-2 victory.
"It was something we worked on a lot in practice this week," said head coach John Bowkus. "Flags [assistant coach Mike Flanagan] did a great job with them and it showed tonight." Not only did the Wildcats kill off 10 Tornado power plays, but they even scored a shorthanded goal in the process.
Texas got on the board first as James Howard scored in his first game with the team for an early 1-0 lead. But goaltender Brian Phillips would proceed to stop everything for the next 45 minutes while the Wildcats turned up the offensive pressure.
Zach Ledford's blast from the point on the power play-- his second power play goal in as many games-- tied the game at a goal apiece. Nine minutes later, with the team down a man, Chris Rial sent an outlet pass to Tyler Lundey, which he put on the stick of Brian Sheehan on a two-on-one. Sheehan faked a return pass, sending Tornado goaltender Dan Sullivan just far enough out of position to open space to put the puck in the net for a 2-1 lead.
Lundey would add a goal of his own in the second period, aided by Sheehan and newcomer Bryan Kozlowski, followed by Kozlowski making it a 4-1 game off assists from Lundey and Sheehan.
Ryan Frost made it a 5-1 game with a third period goal, the first of his career. Aaron Quick and Andy Cramer added assists. The Tornado would cut their deficit from four goals to three with a John Kelly goal, but would get no closer than that.
The expected physicality of a Wildcats-Tornado game was found, including three sets of fighting majors in the second period, and the ejection of a Tornado player in the game's final seconds after a major collision with Phillips.
The Wildcats looked for the sweep on Saturday, just falling short on a late comeback.
Texas got on the board in the first with Steven Behm's goal off a Wildcats turnover for a 1-0 lead. But it wasn't two minutes later before the Wildcats put themselves right back in the game, as Adam Kuhn's power play goal knotted things at a goal apiece. Aaron Quick and Anthony Iaquinto added assists. The Tornado would regain the lead for good late in the first, with Andrew Mueller's shot from the blue line fluttering its way past Brian Phillips for a 2-1 lead.
Texas would go up 3-1 in the second, with a David Rigatti goal, the lone piece of scoring in the period. The Wildcats outshot Texas 12-6 in the second, but couldn't get anything past Dan Sullivan, who stopped 30 of 32 shots in the victory.
The Wildcats would finally break through in the third, with J.T. Osborn cutting the deficit to a goal, set up by an excellent effort from Adam Kuhn, who took on three defenders before passing to Osborn for the goal. Anthony Iaquinto had the secondary assist, his second of the night.
The Wildcats' penalty killing success continued, going 8 for 8. The team has successfully killed off its last 20 penalties, dating back to the second period against Topeka last Saturday. The penalty killing units of the Wildcats have been successful 87.6% of the time this season, currently fifth best in the NAHL.
The Wildcats will spend the next few weeks on the road, going to Fairbanks, Wenatchee, Topeka, and Texas before returning home at the end of November. All games can be seen on the B2 Networks, and the games in Topeka and Texas can be heard online at wfwildcatshockey.com and locally over the airwaves on 94.9 KOLI, The Outlaw.
Radio Show Tuesday
The Wildcats will be on the air once again this Tuesday from Buffalo Wild Wings! Wildcats' head coach John Bowkus and assistant coach Mike Flanagan will spend some time talking to Wildcats' broadcaster Drew Pelto about the games against Texas, as well as covering the upcoming games as the Wildcats make their first westward swing of the season up to Alaska and Washington. The show starts at 7:30 pm and can be heard on 94.9 FM, KOLI, "The Outlaw."
Wildcats Alumni Update
Kyle Delaurell picked up his first collegiate points for the US Air Force Academy, assisting on a first period goal ion a 4-2 loss to Alabama-Huntsville. Not one, but two former Wildcats helped the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 4-0 victory over Denver University on Friday. Defenseman Sean Duddy picked up an assist, while Cal Heeter stopped all 39 shots he faced in net.
Another former Wildcat has made his pro debut. Dan Sexton, playing for the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors, had a goal and an assist in his first game, plus a goal in his second, as they split a weekend series against the Ontario Reign. Sexton is second on the Condors in scoring after the first two games.
Several former Wildcats are making their names known at the club levels of college hockey. David Kurbatsky has 13 points in 7 games for Iowa State University, while Bret Morrell and Adam Krefski have 5 and 12 points, respectively in 10 games for Lindenwood University. In Division 2, Zack Rourke is second on Michigan State in scoring, tallying 15 points in 6 games. Drew Harcharik, playing for University of Maryland-Baltimore County has put up an astonishing 25 points in 7 games, good for second on the team and 8th in the country.
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