'Cats sweep; final weekend to decide playoffs
March 25, 2013 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Wichita Falls Wildcats News Release
The Wildcats needed wins to stay alive for the South Division's final playoff spot, and they got them. Friday, the 'Cats drubbed the Odessa Jackalopes 7-1, then followed it up with a 4-0 shutout on Saturday.
On Friday night, the line of Conor O'Neil, Kyle Bauman, and Nick Farmer struck early and often, putting up four of the Wildcats' seven goals in the 7-1 win. Farmer was the first to strike at the 7:55 mark of the period, followed by O'Neil just 19 seconds later. Bauman assisted on both goals.
The second period settled down with no scoring in the first 14 minutes before a three-minute barrage that saw the Wildcats jump out to a 5-1 lead. The Jackalopes made it a 2-1 game with a Taylor Portner powerplay goal, but just 22 seconds later, the Wildcats got it back with Conor O'Neil's second of the night. Just over a minute later, George Pagonis slipped a wrister stick-side on Odessa goalie Nick Deery, followed a minute later by Kyle Bauman getting a goal to go with his three assists.
A goaltending change didn't help the Jackalopes: just 29 seconds into the third period, Brian Leblanc scored his second of the season, sneaking the puck under the crossbar. Rudy Junda added a goal of his own midway through the third, tapping in a powerplay tally for the Wildcats' seventh goal of the night.
Saturday's game was more of the same early on, as Kyle Bauman got the Wildcats on the board in the first period with the second goal of his five-point weekend. O'Neil and Farmer picked up the assists. The Jackalopes outshot the 'Cats 12-8 in the opening period, but Evan Cowley was on his game the entire night, making a few tough saves as the night wore on.
In the second, Tyler Ledford made it a 2-0 game, followed by Patrick Yudez sneaking a puck through Deery on the powerplay for a 3-0 lead. The defense held up for the 'Cats, and Yudez added a second goal on a nifty redirection in front of the net for a 4-0 win. Cowley's shutout was his third of the season.
WEEKEND NOTES: The Wildcats went 1-7-0 against Odessa last season. This year they finish 11-1-0. In the final four games between the 'Jacks and 'Cats last season, eventual NHL Entry Draft Pick Connor Hellebuyck went 4-0-0 with a shutout, a 1.00 GAA and a .967 save percentage. In their last four this year, Evan Cowley went 4-0-0 with two shutouts, a 0.50 GAA, and a .979 save percentage. The O'Neil-Bauman-Farmer line combined for 15 points on the weekend.
NAHL SOUTH NOTES: Corpus Christi got swept by the Amarillo Bulls, cutting the Wildcats deficit to two points going into the final weekend. Texas and Topeka played a three-game series, with the Roadrunners taking a shootout win, a shootout loss, and a regulation win in a preview of their upcoming first-round playoff matchup. Topeka has secured home-ice advantage for the first round.
NAHL PLAYOFF NOTES
South
The IceRays cling to a two-point lead over the Wildcats for the South's final playoff spot going into the final week. The Wildcats need one of the following scenarios to happen to make the playoffs:
1. A sweep of Topeka and at least one regulation loss by Corpus Christi against Odessa
2. A split with Topeka and an Odessa sweep of Corpus Christi in regulation
In the event of a tie in points, the Wildcats would hold both tie-breakers-number of wins and head-to-head matchup.
Matchups will be Texas at Topeka, and the CC/WF winner at Amarillo.
North
In the North, there's only one playoff spot left to be decided after Johnstown and Port Huron clinched on Saturday. Janesville (55 points with three games remaining) holds the advantage over Springfield (54 points and two games). The Jets get Port Huron on Thursday, then the North Division Champion Soo Eagles on Friday and Saturday. Springfield takes on Kalamazoo on Friday and Saturday. Jamestown and Kalamazoo are currently in a battle for a first-round bye as the North's #2 seed.
Janesville or Springfield will take on either Jamestown or Kalamazoo. Johnstown will face Port Huron.
Central
After weeks of uncertainty, the Minot Minotauros finally clinched the #4 spot on Saturday with a 5-2 win over Brookings. They will play at Austin, while Brookings plays at Bismarck.
West
Wenatchee and Fairbanks will take it down to the final weekend to determine a Division Champion. The Wild hold a 2-point lead. Wenatchee plays at Fresno, while Fairbanks hosts Kenai River. The division winners will host Fresno, while the second seed will play at home against Kenai River.
Evan Cowley: NAHL South Division Star of the Week!
Evan Cowley was named the NAHL South Division Star of the Week! From NAHL.com.
It was a solid weekend for Wichita Falls Wildcats goaltender Evan Cowley. The 17-year-old from Evergreen, Colorado, gave up just a single goal in two games as the Wildcats swept Odessa at home to remain in the playoff hunt in the South Division. On Friday, Cowley (6'41/85) made 25 saves in a 7-1 win. On Saturday, he stopped all 27 shots that came his way for his third shutout of the season in a 4-0 win. For the weekend, Cowley stopped 52 of 53 shots that came his way. At just 17 years old, Cowley is tied for the league lead in games played this season (48) and ranks second in minutes played (2,778). "Evan gives our team a chance to win every night. He has really developed nicely this year and has a wonderful skill set as a goaltender," said Wildcats head coach Paul Baxter. "However, I think where he has grown the most has been the mental part of the game. He plays with a very quiet confidence and really is in a good state of mind when he is out there."
Forward Nick Farmer also received an Honorable Mention.
CC's Magic Number/WF's Tragic Number: 3 points
Scouting the Roadrunners, March 29-30
The Wildcats finish out the regular season with a pair of games at home against the Topeka Roadrunners. The Wildcats swept their last series with them up in Kansas on March 1 and 2. The 'Cats are 4-6-0 against the Roadrunners this season in their previous ten matchups.
The Roadrunners have two of the top five scorers in the NAHL. Kyle Sharkey, the Roadrunners' all-time scoring leader has 66 points, while Sean Gaffney has 65. Codey Hansen is third in the league in penalty minutes, just eight away from the 200-minute mark. Spencer Viele's 2.23 GAA is fifth-best in the NAHL.
Two Roadrunners players hold single-game NAHL highs in stats this season: Gaffney had five assists on November 9 against Amarillo, while Hansen's 54 PIM against Springfield on December 8 are also a league single-game high.
Overall against each other, Gaffney leads the Roadrunners in points with 15, while Eliot Grauer and Conor O'Neil each have ten for the 'Cats. Grauer has 8 goals, while Tyler Ledford leads the Wildcats with 9 assists. Tyler Andrew has been a Wildcat killer this year, scoring eight goals including three game-winners against them this season.
Upcoming Wildcats' Events
We're on the air! Join us for the final Wildcats' Coaches' Radio Show of the season at El Mejicano on Wednesday at 7 pm. The Voice of the Wildcats, Drew Pelto, will interview the Wildcats' coaches and your favorite Wildcats' players. If you can't get to the show, tune in on the radio at 7:30 pm on 94.9, KOLI, The Outlaw. All in attendance wearing a Wildcats' jersey will get 20% off!
Friday is Fan Appreciation Pack the House Night! All tickets are FREE! Call early to get yours. If you need up to four tickets, they are available in the KYC box office. Group tickets of more than four can be booked through the Wildcats' office. Call Jennifer at 940-716-5587.
Saturday Night is the team's annual Jersey Auction. They'll have a silent auction of all the team's jerseys, gloves, and helmets during the game, so make sure you go down and place your bid!
Get out on the ice! We have our March open skating schedule on the Games and Ice Events tab at WFWildcatsHockey.com. We also offer birthday party packages at a Wildcats game or an open skating session. Any questions about our ice programs? Contact Sarah Scrivner in the Wildcats office.
Become a fan on Facebook! Get all our updates at http://www.facebook.com/WFWildcats
And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @WFWildcats!
Alumni Report
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE
Dan Sexton had the game-winning goal plus an assist and was named the game's first star in Syracuse's 3-1 win over Albany on Saturday.
Cal Heeter is probably getting tired of the Adirondack-to-Trenton shuttle, but at least it beats the alternative. After getting recalled by the Phantoms, he picked up back to back wins on Saturday and Sunday over Connecticut and Portland, stopping 62 of 66 shots.
ECHL
Kyle Kraemer scored two goals and added an assist as the Ontario Reign went 2-1 against Idaho over the weekend.
Chad Costello assisted on a pair of goals on Colorado's 4-2 win over Alaska Wednesday.
NCAA DIVISION I
One Wildcat alum is still alive in the quest for a Division I National Championship: Taylor Herndon of #14 Minnesota State will take on #5 Miami of Ohio on Saturday in the tournament's opening round.
• Discuss this story on the North American Hockey League message board...
North American Hockey League Stories from March 25, 2013
- Wings Weekly - Aberdeen Wings
- Jr. Blues Split with Soo - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Jersey Auction this Friday - Brookings Blizzard
- Erik Baskin Named NAHL Central Division Star of the Week - Aberdeen Wings
- 'Cats sweep; final weekend to decide playoffs - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- NAHL Announces Divisional Stars of the Week - NAHL
- Cody Freeman Leads Bulls Charge to NCAA Division I Hockey Tourney - Amarillo Bulls
- Sulmonte Scores Twice, Amarillo's Late Goal Dooms Rays' 5-4 - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Sulmonte, Economos Each Score in 4-2 Loss to Amarillo - Corpus Christi IceRays
- Bulls Push Past IceRays 5-4 - Amarillo Bulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
