Attendance Hits Season High, Wildcatters Fall 3-2 in Rare Home Loss
February 24, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Texas Wildcatters News Release
Beaumont, TX- Kevin Baker had a goal and an assist but the Columbia Inferno proved hotter than the Texas Wildcatters Saturday night, downing the ECHL's top team 3-2 in front of 4,535 at Ford Arena.
Skating on pink ice and in special pink-trimmed jerseys as part of the "Pink in the Rink" promotion benefiting the Julie Rogers "Gift of Life" Program, the Wildcatters were outshot 10-9 by the Inferno in a scoreless but very fast, energetic first period.
Owen Fussey would set the Inferno up 1-0 at 12:25 of the second period after corralling a rebound that snuck behind a low-slot pileup and putting in up out of the reach of a sprawling Jeff Pietrasiak.
Texas dodged a bullet with under a minute remaining in the frame when a Columbia shot rang off the inside of Pietrasiak's blocker-side post. Though the goal light would come on, indicating a goal, play would continue. David Schulz gathered the carom and connected with a streaking Baker who would register his second breakaway goal in as many nights to knot the score at one with 24 seconds remaining in the period.
The Catters would take a 2-1 lead when Max Taylor netted his 21st of the season on assists from Baker and Brandon Benedict at 3:59 but Reid Cashman would answer for the Inferno at 6:33.
A hard-fought period would tilt towards the visitors at 8:15 when Steve McJannet tucked the puck into the cage with what would prove to be the game winner.
Pietrasiak would leave the net for an extra attacker in the final minute but Texas could not find the equalizer as goalie Todd Ford proved solid, stopping 34 of 36 Texas shots on the evening.
Pietrasiak made 23 saves on 26 shots for the Wildcatters, each team was 0-for-5 on the power play.
The 4,535 in attendance is the season high, besting the "Think at the Rink" total of 4,183 from Dec. 20. The loss ends a seven-game home winning streak and is just the second regulation loss at Ford Arena all season.
The rubber match between the Inferno and Wildcatters begins Sunday at 4:05. Mezzanine tickets for kids 12 and under are just $6!
The Texas Wildcatters are the proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild of the NHL and the AHL's Houston Aeros. Celebrate the Catters' Fifth Anniversary Season! Book your group with the Wildcatters, call (409) 951-5500.
The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League marking the 11th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.
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