Brahmas End Wildcats' Six-Game Win Streak
January 18, 2016 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats travelled to the NYTEX Sports Centre for the final time of the 2015-2016 regular season Monday morning for a 2 pm start, and were defeated by the Lone Star Brahmas by a score of 4-2.
The Brahmas out-skated the Wildcats early and outshot them 14-9 in the first period. Less than seven minutes into the game, Justin Kapelmaster conceded a juicy rebound off a Peter Kessel shot. The puck bounced right to Sean Giles, who slammed the puck past Kapelmaster for his first goal of the season.
Merrimack College commit and former Youngstown Phantom Tyler Drevitch doubled the score for the Brahmas 8:35 into the contest. He jabbed the puck past Kapelmaster after Dalton Skelly ripped a wrist shot from the point. Less than five minutes later after killing a penalty, Hogan Davidson hauled the puck down the right side and laid a saucer pass across the ice for David Marabella, who tapped it between Kapelmaster's pads to give the Brahmas a 3-0 lead.
As has been the case lately, the Wildcats dominated the second period. Michael Rounds got things rolling just 1:07 into the period by firing a wrist shot which fluttered over Corbin Kaczperski's glove and into the net. The Wildcats' rode the momentum and outplayed the Brahmas for the remainder of the middle frame, outshooting the Brahmas 9-3 in the period. However, Kaczperski stood tall for Lone Star and kept his team ahead by two.
Crisp defending and puck movement by the Brahmas had the Wildcats fatigued to start the third period. They only managed seven shots through the entire third period. The Cats' special teams struggled all evening long, going 0-for-7 on the power play and just 3-for-5 on the penalty kill. At the 13:49 mark of period three, Carson Kelley managed to trickle the puck through Kapelmaster and add an insurance goal to make the game 4-1.
Refusing to go down quietly, the Wildcats continued to pressure the Brahmas despite trailing by three goals late in the game. Nick Rosa spun the puck on net from behind the goal line on his backhand and it bounced off of Kaczperski and into the net. The goal was Rosa's 10th of the season, and it sparked a fire under some of the Wildcats with five minutes remaining. However, the Brahmas' defensive play proved to be too much for the Cats, who were never able to climb out of the hole they'd gotten themselves into in the first period.
Kapelmaster made 19 saves on 23 shots for just his fourth regulation loss, while Kaczperski stopped 23 shots of 25 for his 16th win. The Wildcats host the Brahmas on Friday the 22nd at 7 pm and Saturday the 23rd at 5 pm on Children's Miracle Network weekend sponsored by United Regional and KFDX.
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North American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2016
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- Florian, Theisen Named Honorable Mentions - Coulee Region Chill
- 'Cats Sent Home on Doggy Day - Lone Star Brahmas
- Aston Tops Titans in Monday Matinee - New Jersey Titans
- Brahmas End Wildcats' Six-Game Win Streak - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Coffman Earns Star of the Week Honors - Johnstown Tomahawks
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- IceRays Tender NAPHL Defenseman Conor Yawney - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Weekend Recap: Chill Split Weekend Series with Jets - Coulee Region Chill
- IceRays Weekly - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Patava Traded to Minnesota - Lone Star Brahmas
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