Two Out Of Three Makes Four Points
Published on February 23, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
A month ago, no one would have predicted the Wildcats could pick up back-to-back wins against the defending three-time Robertson Cup champion St. Louis Bandits. The Wildcats were 0-3-1 against the Bandits, coming off losses of 4-2 and 5-0 at the Hardee's IcePlex. But in the span of a month, things have turned around. A 1-2 weekend in St. Louis last week gave hope to the fans and players alike that the team could pick up two, perhaps even three victories as the teams played a three-game set on the Wildcats' home ice.
Friday night, the Wildcats put up three in a row, one goal in each period on their way to a 3-1 victory. Sean Keane got the scoring started, putting a nifty move on a St. Louis defenseman, then shooting high on Tyler Bruggeman, sneaking the puck under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead. The second period's goal came courtesy of a perfect pass from Bryan Kozlowski to Brandon Stroud, who punched the puck in for a 2-0 game. In the third, a perfect set of cross-crease passes, Brian Sheehan to Ryan Frost to Tyler Lundey would result in goal number three. In goal, P.J. Musico stopped the first 34 shots he faced before Isak Quakenbush snuck one past him with under a second left, getting the Bandits on the board but on the short end of the scoreboard 3-1.
Saturday night's game would become an absolute epic, with the Wildcats picking up a 5-4 victory in a shootout, the team's first victory in a shootout this season.
The Wildcats took an early 2-0 lead, with Ryan Frost and J.T. Osborn each scoring goals inside the first eleven minutes. The Bandits though would come back, tying the game before the first intermission. The second was all St. Louis, scoring the lone goal of the period, and outshooting the Wildcats 15-6.
The Bandits had controlled most third periods against the Wildcats this season, outscoring them 12-4 in the final frames of their previous six games. But the Wildcats had other ideas, as Frost scored his second of the night just three minutes in to tie the game at three.
Controversy erupted at the 14:47 mark, as with St. Louis on a 5-on-3 power play, Grant Gettinger's shot from the point was partially blocked and fluttered its way toward the front of the net. On a scramble in front, a St. Louis glove appeared to reach up and knock the puck in the net. The officials ruled it a legal goal, giving St. Louis a 4-3 lead.
But the Wildcats would not give up, and with a 5-on-3 power play of their own, Kyle Gallegos tied the game at the 17:23 mark. The final 2:37 and overtime went scoreless and the game went into a shootout. The Wildcats entered the game scoring on only one of 22 attempts in shootouts this season, as Adam Kuhn scored on the first shootout attempt of the season against North Iowa. The skid continued as the first two shooters for each team got stopped, before St. Louis' Dan Olszewski got the Bandits on the board, but Ryan Frost, who had two goals in regulation and a crucial blocked shot late in the game, would keep the hot hand, putting the puck past C.J. Groh, tying the score in the shootout at a goal apiece. The goalies would trade seven shutout frames in a row, then after Musico shut the door for his tenth save on eleven shots in the shootout, it was Brandon Stroud seeking and finding the back of the net for the game-winner. Stroud's winning tally got him named the first star of the game, while Frost was second, and game-tier Kyle Gallegos was third.
Desperate to avoid being swept, the St. Louis Bandits came out on fire on Sunday afternoon, heading out of town with a 7-2 victory over the Wildcats. The Bandits got on the board twice in the opening period, with their second goal coming with partial thanks to the Wildcats' worst enemy over the past few weeks: the final second of the clock, as a shot went in with 0.6 seconds remaining in the period.
The Wildcats would get it back early in the second period as Tyler Briola did the ol' spin-o-rama move before slipping a backhander past Tyler Bruggeman, cutting it to a 2-1 game. The Bandits would come back with two more for a 4-1 lead before Brian Sheehan would get the Cats' second and final goal, his team-leading 25th of the season.
The Bandits would pick up three more in a penalty-filled third period, which witnessed ejections to Sean Keane and interim head coach Mike Flanagan. The Wildcats went 0 for 8 on the power play, against the league's top penalty killing unit. The Wildcats went 1 for 19 with the man advantage on the weekend, while the Bandits have killed 44 of the last 45 penalties called against them.
The Wildcats will face the Texas Tornado on Friday and Saturday at the Kay Yeager Coliseum. Saturday night is the Children's Miracle Networks "Jersey Off Our Backs" Auction.
Players of the Week
Congratulations to Ryan Frost and Brian Sheehan for being named as Honorable Mentions in the Sherwood/NAHL South Division Player of the Week. Also getting an Honorable Mention in the Sherwood/NAHL Goaltender of the week was P.J. Musico.
Police and Fire Appreciation, Parents Weekend, and CMN Auction
The Wildcats will have a busy weekend coming up in their two games against the Texas Tornado. The two games mark the annual Parents' Weekend, where players' families are invited to be saluted at the Kay Yeager Coliseum and thank them for allowing their sons to play for the Wildcats.
Friday night is also Police and Fire Night. Any area police officers and firefighters can get a voucher for two free tickets to Friday night's game. Additional tickets can be purchased for only $5. To get a voucher, contact Moose Panik in the Wildcats' office at 940-716-5587.
Saturday night is Children's Miracle Network "Jersey Off Our Backs" Night. The Wildcats will wear special CMN jerseys for the games this weekend and then auction them off following Saturday night's contest. Through last season, the Wildcats had raised over $400,000 for CMN, with much of that money coming via the annual auction and the accompanying memorabilia sales.
Wildcats Alumni Update
While most talk of "Tournament Time" in college sports revolves around basketball, college hockey begins its march toward the Frozen Four at the Division 1 and 3 levels, as well as in the club-level ACHA.
The NCHA has already begun tournament play. The MIAC, MCHA, NESCAC, SUNYAC, ECAC East, ECAC-Northeast, and ECAC-West start next week, while the MASCAC Tournament starts in two weeks. A number of former Wildcats will be participating in these events, including Brett Kaneshiro (Curry, ECAC-Northeast), Skylur Jameson, Shaun Jameson, Mike Jarboe (Wentworth, ECAC-Northeast), Patrick and Bill Colclough (UMass-Dartmouth, MASCAC), Matt Kenline, Alex Molnar (Salem State, MASCAC), Nick Ghidina (Lake Forest, MCHA), Ryan Hitchcock (Marian, MCHA), Joel Sauer (Augsburg, MIAC), Kyle Mattson (Hamline, MIAC), Tyler Brigl (Wisconsin-Eau Claire, NCHA), Grant Everett (Wisconsin-River Falls, NCHA), Kent Detlefsen, Creighton Scarpone (Wisconsin-Stevens Point, NCHA), Nick Hopper (Wisconsin-Stout, NCHA), Thomas Erlacher (Wisconsin-Superior, NCHA), and Eddie Effinger (Amherst, NESCAC). Best of luck to all of these players on the march toward their conference championships and the Division 3 Frozen Four!
In the ACHA, Lindenwood, Iowa State, and Oklahoma all received top 8 seeds in the ACHA Division 1 Tournament. Lindenwood is the top-ranked team, and features former Wildcats Bret Morrell, Adam Krefski, and Mike Sturdevant. Iowa State has David Kurbatsky, while Oklahoma has Robert Hetrick, Augie Hoffman, Chad Hudson, and Chris Nicolaou.
Kyle Delaurell had a two-point game, scoring a goal and picking up an assist in Air Force's 3-2 OT loss to Rochester Institute of Technology.
Kyle Kraemer scored two goals in a weekend split with Boston College. The former Wildcats' captain is second on the Northeastern Huskies in scoring and tied for the team lead in goals. Overall, his is tied for sixth in goals in Hockey East, and tied for fifth in power play goals in the conference.
Skylur Jameson picked up four points on a goal and three assists on Wednesday as Wentworth beat Salve Regina 10-4.
Matt Kenline had a two-goal game for Salem State in a 9-2 win over Framingham State on Thursday.
Ryan Hitchcock picked up another two points with Marian, getting a goal and an assist in an 8-2 win over Northland.
Thomas Erlacher also had himself a multi-point game, tallying two assists in a 4-4 tie against St. Scholastica on Friday.
At the pro levels, Jack Wolgemuth had a weekend to remember. The SPHL rookie had three goals and an assist in three games: a victory over Knoxville, and two over Huntsville. He was also a +2 and had 15 penalty minutes in a third period brawl Saturday against Huntsville.
Chad Costello's job as an assist machine continues. In two weekend victories over Rapid City and Laredo, he picked up a goal and tacked on five assists, while also being a +5.
Dan Sexton continues rolling in the AHL. In four games this past week, he scored two goals and had two assists. He now has 12 points in 13 games in the AHL, and 9 points in 8 games since the Anaheim Ducks sent him down at the start of February.
North American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2010
- Two Out Of Three Makes Four Points - Wichita Falls Wildcats
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